Because we could all use an extra dose of good luck this year!
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After another long year of ups and downs, you're probably ready to greet the new year with renewed hope and optimism. Perhaps adding these colors to your celebration will help bring you good luck! For centuries, the psychology of color has fascinated researchers. And although there's plenty of scholarly discussion, there's no consensus on what colors really mean. In fact, it's pretty subjective: Research shows that personal preference and life experiences can determine what colors we like and how we react to them. Scientists say most color theory is based on anecdotal evidence, although certain cultures do consider specific hues symbolic (say, white for brides or black for mourning in some Western cultures).
Whether not you believe in the power of colors, including these shades in your celebration can’t hurt, right? Here are the colors you should include for good luck whether you’re planning a low-key dinner with your best friend, lounging on the sofa watching New Year's movies with your fur baby, or sipping New Year's co*cktails via Zoom with far-away family and friends. Though we can't promise anything, adding some (or all!) of these colors just may bring you good luck this year:
1
White: A New Beginning
White has long been associated with innocence in many cultures, religious traditions, and works of art. Renaissance manuscripts refer to the color as a symbol of purity, so it’s often thought of as a color that’s unsullied, fresh, and clean. And don’t we all need a new start this year?
2
Red: Overall Good Luck
One of the oldest events still celebrated today is Lunar New Year, dating back thousands of years and celebrated in many Asian countries. The event is steeped in legend and originated when people decorated their homes with red decor to scare off a hungry beast that was rumored to threaten villages every New Year. Today, red continues to be associated with good luck in the Chinese and other Asian cultures. Make sure to have some red nearby for good luck as you ring in the year.
3
Purple: Prosperity
Purple is associated with wealth and was once worn only by royalty in Europe and Asia. That’s because in ancient Phoenicia, a long-lasting, vibrant purple dye was made from a rare sea snail. It took as many as 250,000 of these snails to create one ounce of dye, so only the ultra-wealthy, such as royalty, could wear it. While we don’t suggest making dye from sea snails, incorporating purple into your celebration could bring hope for prosperity in the new year.
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4
Blue: Peacefulness
Blue has been connected to serenity in art and religious traditions for centuries. In fact, blue was believed to have mystical properties due to its rarity as a pigment, which artists coveted. The color, made from the mineral lapis lazuli, was imported from Asia for 6,000 years until the 18th century when a new blue pigment, which could be produced commercially, was created accidentally. Bring a sense of serenity to your home by celebrating with the color blue for a peaceful new year.
5
Silver: Opportunities
Silver is one of the world’s ancient precious metals, first mined more than 5,000 years ago. It's also been used for millennia for its antimicrobial properties. Surround yourself with this shiny hue to celebrate all the precious opportunities this new year will bring!
6
Green: Happiness and Good Health
In many cultures, green is associated with the natural world. And who doesn’t need more green space? Many studies have linked spending time in nature to better physical and mental health, including an increase in positive emotions such as happiness and a decrease in anxiety. That being said, green is a color you need to bring indoors for a happy new year—whether it's to paint a room a soothing shade of green that's trending now or to add some easy-care houseplants to your home.
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7
Gold: Hope
Yellow is an upbeat color that reminds you of sunshine and pretty yellow flowers bobbing in the breeze on a springtime morning. It’s a color that’s been loved and used in art for centuries—even dating back to prehistoric cave paintings 17,000 years ago! Add yellow to your celebration to start your year with a sense of hope.
