Did you know that...

 

If you are as obsessed about the color purple as I am, you might enjoy a little purple trivia. Here are some "Purple Factoids" I have gathered over the years...

Purple Color Meanings

The color purple is symbolic of power, healing, the divine, spiritual goals, passionate belief, magic, and mystery. It represents visionary leadership, respect, wealth, luxury, and sophistication. Purple has been worn by emperors, kings, military commanders, and other high-ranking officials. It also has come to symbolize psychic ability, success, wisdom, power, spiritual growth, and independence. Purple is the color of passion, romance, sensitivity, and good judgment. It is also the color used by people seeking spiritual fulfillment and is a good color to use in meditation. It is said that if you surround yourself with purple, you will have peace of mind. Various shades of purple have come to represent specific characteristics as shown below:

· Deep Purple = Sorrow

· Warm Purple = Power

· Light Purple = Gentleness, Wisdom

· Lavender = Reverence and Royalty

· Violet = Purpose

· Indigo = Intuition

 

Purple Flower Meanings

Flowers represent so many meanings, but here is a short list of purple flowers and their meanings:

· Lavender Rose = Love at First Sight, Enchantment, Uniqueness

· Violet = Modesty, Faithfulness, Humility, Honesty, Virtue

· African Violet = Promotes spirituality and Peaceful Vibrations

· Purple Lilac = First Emotions of Love, Luck

· Purple Columbine = Resolved to Win

· Purple Carnation = Capriciousness

· Lavender Heather = Admiration, Solitude, Luck

· Purple Hyacinth = I Am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow

· Purple Orchids - Love

Purple Stone Meanings

Many people believe that stones and crystals have their own vibrational frequencies. Many of these stones are believed to produce a resonance with specific energy locations in the human body. Purple gemstones are associated with mysticism and purification. They are used for meditation, to sharpen psychic awareness, and to connect with one’s higher self. Here is a list of purple stones and their respective meanings:

· Amethyst (purple) = Intuition & Peace

· Charoite (dark purple) = Clears Negative Energy

· Fluorite (Purple/Blue/Green) = Calming/Breaking out of ruts

· Lolite (blueish purple) = Truth/Simplicity

· Lepidolite (Lilac/Light Purple) = Brings Hope & Eases Stress

Purple History

In ancient times, purple was almost impossible to produce naturally. The earliest form of colorfast purple dye was produced by squeezing shellfish called the murex sea mussel or porphura (Greek), and through and elaborate process yielded the dye called Tyrian Purple (what a chore!). Since this was such an expensive process, the color purple was limited to the wealthy and/or powerful. The color purple has been associated with royalty since ancient Roman times where Roman Emperors wore purple to symbolize the god Jupiter. Other shades of purple were strictly reserved for the Imperial family and officials. Just possessing the color purple without authorization could result in severe punishment! It wasn’t until the early 1900’s that the same chemical in shellfish dye was also discovered in the roots of reeds growing in India. This substance called indigo was used for centuries to produce rich blue shades, but chemists of the early 1900’s derived a purple that was easy to mass produce.

Looking back into American history, the color purple came to represent positions of honor and valor. In 1782, George Washington created The Purple Heart, the military’s oldest and most admired decoration, when Continental Congress told him he could not award commissions or advancements to soldiers. This token of valor was originally a heart made of purple cloth.

 

The color purple is used in churches and religious sects to represent the holy aspect of the Advent, the birth of Christ. Lavender is used in Advent wreaths to represent purity and virtue. In Christianity, purple means penitence. In Hindu belief, purple is the color of the crown chakra.

Using Purple in Interior Design

Using pure or predominately purple scheme in interior design lends itself to strong lines and authoritative designs, and creates an extremely dramatic interior. Most children love the color purple, and it is the color most favored by artists. Since purple is a combination of blue and red (the coolest and warmest colors), many consider it to be the ideal color. Violet and plum hues (with higher concentrations of red) can help warm a cool blue design. Indigo (higher concentration of blue) can help cool a warm orange interior. Pairing purple with yellow (complements) provides a dramatic but well-balanced interior. Combining various shades of lavender and lilac with deep plum accents can create a tranquil and romantic space.

Did you know…
Purple glass was invented by mistake! Purple turned up in colonial homes when clear window glass was imported from England. A defective batch, made with too much magnesium, was shipped to New England, and windowpanes turned purple when exposed to the sun. Some people thought the glass looked faulty but many preferred the beautiful purple hue. When the company was asked to produce more, they could not replicate the mistake. The purple glass panes are still installed today in Boston’s historic Beacon Hill close to the Statehouse.

Famous Purple Characters

· Tinky Winky

· McDonalds’ Grimace

· Purple People Eater

· Barney (the dinosaur)