Hello colour lover!

This month we’re going to be looking at some of the fun facts about the colour green. There’s was so much to share about this wonderful hue, here are my top 5!

1. We see more Greens than any other colour

Did you know the human eye is able to differentiate more shades of green than any other colour? The belief behind this is one of evolution and survival when our early ancestors relied on being able to find food, water and life. 

2. The many names for green

Given we can see more variations of green than any other colour, it also means we have many ways to describe them. Common names like aqua, emerald, forest green, olive, khaki, sage, forest green, bottle green, mint, jade, moss, pea green, grass green, pine, chartreuse (lime), seafoam green and pistachio. What other names do you have for green?

3. Green eyes

There’s no green pigment in green eyes. It seems they are an unusual blend of light brown and yellow pigments with some Rayleigh scattering which is the dispersion of light as it bounces off of air molecules. So it seems when we see green eyes it’s an optical illusion. If you know anyone with green eyes you can let them know it’s also one of the rarest eye colours in the world.  

4. Colour in culture Green

Have you heard of the saying ‘green-eyed’ jealousy? It was it first used by Shakespeare, in his play The Merchant of Venice written way back in the 16^th Century. This phrase is a common saying in Britain and has morphed further into people believing green is the colour of jealousy. And to think it all started by a few words in a play.

In Ireland, green is seen as the colour of good luck. When we think of green and good luck, the symbol of the four leaf clover comes to mind. It might be where the phrase having the luck of the Irish comes from. It’s even called the Emerald Isle! The Chicago River is dyed green every year to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

One fact I found fascinating is that in China, to wear a green hat is an expression that means your wife has been unfaithful to you.

5. The psychology of Green

Like we learnt in the first fun fact, green is the colour that reassures us on a very primitive level. We know instinctively where there’s green, we’ll find food and water – it equals life. Green falls in the middle of the light spectrum, meaning our eyes requires very little to no adjustment to be able to see it, making it a very restful colour for us. This is why with the majority of greens we see give us the feeling of being at peace and restful.

Want to learn more?

Head over to buy The Little Book of Colour where you can find out How to Use the Psychology of Colour to Transform your Life.

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You can also download the First Chapter of The Little Book of Colour for free.

Want to find new ways to bring colour into all areas of your life? Then The Colour Club might be just what you’re looking for.

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Wishing you a colourful day!
Karenx

Image credits

Rain forest Photo by Raphaël Menesclou on Unsplash
Tones of green – Karen Haller
Green eyes Photo by Morgan Lane on Unsplash
Four leaf clover Photo by Yan Ming on Unsplash
Light Spectrum