The document discusses color meanings across different cultures. It provides information on how various colors like red, orange, yellow, green, purple, pink, white, grey, black, brown, silver and gold are interpreted in Western, Eastern/Asian, Latin American, African, Middle Eastern and South Pacific cultures. For example, it notes that red typically symbolizes danger in the West but joy in China. It also indicates that white represents purity in the West but mourning in parts of Asia and Africa. The document is a reference for understanding cultural symbolism associated with different colors.

1. Color Meaning By Culture
Western (European & Eastern & Asian Latin African Middle South Pacific Worldwide
North American) American Eastern
4 1
Danger, Love, Passion, Joy (with White) , Mexico: Death Egypt: Luck Australia
3
Red Excitement, Sacrifice, Stop, Bridal Color Religion (Aboriginals):
3
Christmas (with Green), (with Nigeria : Iran: Good Land, Earth
1
Power China: White) Wealth, Fortune
Celebration, Vitality, New Zealand
1
Parts of Europe: Masculinity Good Luck, Aggression (Maori): Nobility,
1
Happiness, Long Divinity
3 3
Celtic: Death, Afterlife Life, Summoning Some Areas:
Good Luck
2
Russia: Communism India: Purity
Côte d’Ivoire
Japan: Life & South
Africa:
3
Mourning
Autumn, Harvest India (Hindu): Egypt:
2
Orange Ireland: Protestants Sacred (the Color Mourning
1
Saffron)
The Netherlands: Royalty
3
(Very Popular) Japan: Courage,
Ukraine: Strength Love
United States: Halloween
(with Black)
2
Hope, Happiness, Cowardice, Sacred, Imperial Mexico: Ethiopia: Egypt:
1
Yellow Weakness, Hazards, Taxis, China: Royalty, Mourning Mourning Mourning
3 3
Warmth Nourishing South Africa Saudi Arabia:
(Zulu): Strength,
Germany: Envy India: Wealth Reliability
3
Italy: Summer Commerce
Ukraine: Hospitality, Japan: Courage
Benevolence
Environmental Awareness, China: Exorcism, North Africa: Holiness Indonesia: Military
Green Spring, New Birth, Go, Infidelity (Green Corruption Egypt: Forbidden Color (Olive
4
Christmas (with Red), St. Hats), Not a Good National Green)
Patrick’s Day Color for South Africa Color, Malaysia and
5
Packaging (Zulu): Na Fertility, Not Some Areas:
2
France : Not a Good Color for a Good Color Danger
5 2 5
Packaging India: Islam for Packaging
Ireland: National Color, Japan: Life, High‐
2
Catholicism tech
United States: Money
3 1
Violet Royalty China: Nobility Brazil: Egypt: Virtue
& India: Mourning
Purple Reincarnation
Thailand:
3
Mourning
References:
1. Vanka PhD, Surya. International Color Guide, Tektronix/Xerox.
2. Nicholson PhD, Mary. Graphic Design: Psychology of Color. “Lesson 13: Colors and Moods,” Bloomsburg University, 2001.
3. Kyrnin, Jennifer. Visual Color Symbolism Chart by Culture.
4. The Meaning of Color
5. Psychological Effects of Color, California State University Stanislaus
Copyright(C) 2012 International Business Edge! TM | Globalization Group, Inc.

2. Color Meaning By Culture
Western (European & Eastern & Asian Latin African Middle South Pacific Worldwide
North American) American Eastern
3
Feminine Marriage South Africa
Pink East India: (Zulu):
Feminine Poverty
Japan: Popular
with Both
Genders
Korea: Trust
3 1
Marriage, Peace, Purity, Funerals , Ethiopia: Egypt: Status New Guinea:
1 1
White Hospitals, Holiness Coldness, Illness, Purity Prosperity
2
Sterility Nigeria: Good Iran:
1
Italy: Death and Funerals China: Death, Luck, Peace Holiness,
3 1
(White Chrysanthemum) Mourning , Age, Peace
Misfortune South Africa
(Zulu):
1
India: Goodness
3
Unhappiness ,
5
Death , Rebirth
Zambia:
Goodness,
Japan: Mourning Cleanliness,
(White Carnation) Good Luck
Poverty, Plainness Papua New
Grey Guinea:
1
Mourning
Funerals, Death, Mourning, China: Color for Peru: Ethiopia: Egypt: New Zealand:
1
Black Formality, Rebellion Young Boys, Mourning, Impure, Rebirth Iran: Patriotic National
1 1
Trust, High Favored Unpleasant Mourning Color
Quality Color for Nigeria: Australia
Thailand: Bad Male Ominous (Aboriginals):
1
Luck, Clothing Color of the
Unhappiness, Evil People
Tibet: Evil
3 4
Earthy, Healthy , Poverty India: Mourning Colombia: Australia
Brown United States: Often a Greatly Colombia: Discourages (Aboriginals):
4
Successful Color for Food Discourages Sales Color of the
Packaging Nicaragua: 3
Land
4
Disapproval
Money, Stylish
Silver
Money,
Gold Success, High
Quality
References:
1. Vanka PhD, Surya. International Color Guide, Tektronix/Xerox.
2. Nicholson PhD, Mary. Graphic Design: Psychology of Color. “Lesson 13: Colors and Moods,” Bloomsburg University, 2001.
3. Kyrnin, Jennifer. Visual Color Symbolism Chart by Culture.
4. The Meaning of Color
5. Psychological Effects of Color, California State University Stanislaus
Copyright(C) 2012 International Business Edge! TM | Globalization Group, Inc.