There are over 10 million colors that are visible to the human eye. There are seven colors in the spectrum, namely red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
In the spectrum of visible light, orange comes in between red and yellow. Orange is an attractive color.
It also quickly grabs our attention at night. This is why life jackets, reflectors, and traffic cones are all made in orange. It is also a soothing color.
Vivid sunsets, carrots, oranges, autumn leaves, and fire flames are all orange. In terms of pigment, orange is obtained by mixing yellow and red and in terms of light, it is obtained by combining low-frequency green light and high frequency red light.
The wavelength of orange is 585–620 nanometres. The wavelength of orange is the second longest one that can be recognized by the human eye. We have curated a bunch of interesting facts about the orange color.
Do not miss out on them. Once you have finished reading this article, you can also check out our other articles on what color does orange and green make and what color does blue and orange make.
Origin of the Name
The color orange gets its name from one of the bright orange, citrus fruits. The origin of the word is quite complicated.
It is widely believed that it is derived from the French word pomme de orenge . However, the French word pomme de orenge is rooted in the Arabic word nranj, which is again just another derivation of the Sanskrit word nraga. Nraga descends from the Tamil and Malayalam words narandam and naranja.
Orange was used as a name for the color in the 17th century. As the popularity of the fruit grew, people started associating the fruit with the color.
In English, orange was first used to describe the garments purchased for Margaret Tudor in 1502. So how did people refer to the color before it got its name? The color was called yellow-red or ġeolurēad in Old English.
The Color Psychology of Orange
Our impressions of colors vary greatly. Each hue sends a unique message. There are different shades of oranges and the messages sent might vary slightly, but as a whole, orange represents safety.
Psychologically, it is believed that orange is a pain reliever color and helps keep your mind free of disappointments. Orange is associated with rebirth, positivity, and hope. It boosts competitiveness and helps in finding answers to life's most tough challenges.
It subdues an introvert's personality while elevating the personal boundaries you create for yourself. Orange encourages internal growth by supporting you in gaining a deeper knowledge of your emotions. Like all other colors, orange has a lot of bad associations.
Deeper colors of orange are frequently avoided since they have the most damaging effects. The color is linked to arrogance and pride. Insensitivity, superficiality, and inferiority are some of the other unfavorable associations.
Global Meanings of Orange
Christians viewed orange as a sign of grandeur. In the early Christian church, it was popularly known as the wisdom ray.
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese science and art. In feng shui, orange symbolizes flames. In the Elizabeth era, which lasted from 17 Nov 1558 to 24 Mar 1603, orange was viewed as a royal color. The laws restricted the use of orange among commoners. Only the elite class could wear orange.
Orange is connected to saints, monks, and Buddhists in both Dravidian and Christian culture as they wear orange robes. It represents simplicity.
The hue is associated with the setting sun all around the world. The bright sunsets create a lively atmosphere.
Designing with Orange
Orange is a mix of two colors, red and yellow. Orange loses its vigor, attaining a neutral tone when mixed with red.
Orange is a dynamic color, so designing with orange is not just easy but also fun. Orange and blue together are the best combination. Orange is an eye catching color and is popular among brand designers.
You can blend orange with other pastel colors and create a young, cheerful palette. Orange is also making a comeback in the fashion industry.
While orange in itself can be a daring choice, other shades of orange, like terracotta, amber, and spice, are easily stylable and preferred by several stylists for their winter collections. Orange is a brilliant choice for people looking for a cozy vibe in their house. It also lights up the rooms.
If you are skeptical about making this bold choice, you can simply invest in other orange house decors. Orange pillows with a white bedspread will immediately brighten your mood.
Did you know?
Carrots, pumpkins, and all other orange vegetables and fruits get their orange pigment from carotenoids, a type of phytonutrient that breaks down the light energy and converts it into chemical energy. Autumn leaves also get their orange hue due to this phytonutrient.
For a very long time, it was believed that the canary's orange color was a natural thing. Due to cross breeding, these birds that were originally green, brown turned yellow. This yellow, along with the pigment from the red peppers in their diet, made them look orange.
The national color of the Netherlands is orange. The soccer team uses orange kits as it symbolizes national unity.
Not all oranges are orange. Thai tangerines and Vietnamese oranges have bright green skin.
Orange day falls on the 25 November each year. It is celebrated to end the violence against women as the color symbolizes a bright future.
Carrots were not always orange. Most of them were purple. Orange carrots were produced in the 17th century when mutated white rooted carrots and wild carrots were crossbred.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for facts about the color orange, then why not take a look at what color does purple and yellow make, or what colors make orange?
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Oluniyi AkandeDoctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine
With an accomplished background as a Veterinarian, SEO content writer, and public speaker, Oluniyi brings a wealth of skills and experience to his work. Holding a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Ibadan, he provides exceptional consulting services to pet owners, animal farms, and agricultural establishments. Oluniyi's impressive writing career spans over five years, during which he has produced over 5000 high-quality short- and long-form pieces of content. His versatility shines through as he tackles a diverse array of topics, including pets, real estate, sports, games, technology, landscaping, healthcare, cosmetics, personal loans, debt management, construction, and agriculture.
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