Few colors generate as much excitement as red. Looking around, you can see the color red in a variety of contexts and situations. What exactly does red symbolize and what is its practical use in everyday life?

Symbolic meaning

The color red has an extremely rich symbolism and a multitude of uses. When it comes to character traits, red stands for strength, anger and leadership. It is most often chosen by people who want to stand out from the crowd. It was red that was the attribute of monarchs in ancient times. Softer and less vibrant shades of this color can signify passion, joy and love. After all, it is not without reason that the heart symbolizing love is red. Just like the Santa suit, which is inseparable from the happiness of children who receive Christmas gifts.

Interestingly, the color red has a similar meaning and symbolism in many parts of the world. In Europe as well as in other regions, red is often a symbol of good luck. In China, it symbolizes power, wealth and prosperity. Japanese children always draw the sun in red. In South Africa, red is the color associated with mourning.

Practical use

The color red fulfils various functions. It is used as a symbol of warning and prohibition, mainly because of its association with leadership qualities. In traffic lights, the red signal prohibits any traffic. Red is also widely used on prohibitory traffic signs.

Owing to the fact that red is linked to love and desire, it is the most seductive and sexy color choice for lipstick. The same applies to underwear and high heels.

Red is very often used in marketing and advertising campaigns due to its strong emotional appeal. Thanks to the fact that it strongly attracts attention, it is commonly used during sales and promotions.

Red is also the color most often used on flags. It can be found on the flags of 77 percent of the countries of the world.