Seeing Red

Well, it's a bit later than I promised, but then again, Violet was the only one who responded to my colour challenge anyway (thanks Vi!).

Here begins my thoughts on the attachment of meaning to colours:

RED.

Red occurs in nature most obviously as blood. Some fruits can be red, some soil has a reddish tinge, but blood is more alarming than fruit or soil, so humans would take more notice of it.

Blood is associated with pain and danger, and also with excitement - when you are excited or aggravated, your heart speeds up and blood rushes to your face.

Red is the colour of Mars, the Roman god of war. War=blood=red. The romans probably named the planet after the god of war because it was red. (Yes, Mercury is also red, but they probably thought it was fitting that the bigger planet should be the god of war)

So if the idea of red became related to the idea of blood, it explains why many objects in the man-made world that are red are associated with danger - stop lights and signs, alarms, warning lights...

What about hot water taps? Why are they usually marked as red? What is it that made people relate the idea of red with the idea of heat?

I'm not quite as certain about this one, but I have a few theories:

Perhaps it has something to do with themometers - the mercury used is red.

Or maybe it's because of sunburn. If you stay out too long in the hot sun, you go red.

Or maybe it's another blood thing. Isn't blood warm? Except what's the deal with reptiles being 'cold-blooded'?

It is fairly safe to say that Red is the colour of heat and pain and danger and anger and excitement and passion. And 'alive-ness', as Violet pointed out.

And Christmas, for some reason. Can anyone explain that?