Today is Wear Purple Day!
Why was purple worn by royalty? Mainly because purple dyes were so hard to make. Using lichen, the plant had to react with ammonia (this meant urine in ancient days) and sit out in the air for 2 weeks. Then it was mixed with pot ash to be used as a dye. This was much harder than just boiling berries or leaves for other colors, so purple dye was only for the wealthy. Today, all you have to do is spill some grape kool-aid and everything turns purple.
For more fun days in May visit: http://hidates.com/maycal.shtml
More about the color purple:
The earliest archaeological evidence for the origins of purple dyes points to the Minoan civilization in Crete, about 1900 B.C. The ancient land of Canaan (its corresponding Greek name was Phoenicia, which means “land of the purple”) was the center of the ancient purple dye industry. Tyrian Purple,” the purple dye of the ancients mentioned in texts dating back to about 1600 B.C., was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of various species of marine mollusks, notably Murex. It took some 12,000 shellfish to extract 1.5 grams of the pure dye. Legend credits its discovery to Herakles, or rather to his dog, whose mouth was stained purple from chewing on snails along the Levantine coast. King Phoenix received a purple-dyed robe from Herakles and decreed the rulers of Phoenicia should wear this color as a royal symbol.
Why was purple worn by royalty? Mainly because purple dyes were so hard to make. Using lichen, the plant had to react with ammonia (this meant urine in ancient days) and sit out in the air for 2 weeks. Then it was mixed with pot ash to be used as a dye. This was much harder than just boiling berries or leaves for other colors, so purple dye was only for the wealthy. Today, all you have to do is spill some grape kool-aid and everything turns purple.
For more fun days in May visit: http://hidates.com/maycal.shtml
More about the color purple:
The earliest archaeological evidence for the origins of purple dyes points to the Minoan civilization in Crete, about 1900 B.C. The ancient land of Canaan (its corresponding Greek name was Phoenicia, which means “land of the purple”) was the center of the ancient purple dye industry. Tyrian Purple,” the purple dye of the ancients mentioned in texts dating back to about 1600 B.C., was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of various species of marine mollusks, notably Murex. It took some 12,000 shellfish to extract 1.5 grams of the pure dye. Legend credits its discovery to Herakles, or rather to his dog, whose mouth was stained purple from chewing on snails along the Levantine coast. King Phoenix received a purple-dyed robe from Herakles and decreed the rulers of Phoenicia should wear this color as a royal symbol.
According to one article in Paper, Film and Foil Converter Rome, Egypt, and Persia all used purple as the imperial standard. Purple dyes were rare and expensive; only the rich had access to them. The purple colorants used came from different sources, most from the dye extraction from fish or insects.
The imperial purple of Rome was based on mollusk from which purpura comes. Emperor Aurelian refused to let his wife buy a purpura-dyed silk garment, as it cost its weight in gold!
An interesting article on About.com says “Purple is often associated with Royalty and Spirituality: Purple is royalty. A mysterious color, purple is associated with both nobility and spirituality. The opposites of hot red and cool blue combine to create this intriguing color.” … giving purple both cool and warm properties.
Purple is also associated with creativity and imagination. However too much purple can lead to moodiness and disharmony.
Other Purple facts:
Purple has been long associated as the color of mourning for widows in Thailand.
The Purple Heart is given to U.S. Military soldiers wounded in battle.
Oprah Winfrey got an Oscar for her role in the movie “The Color Purple” which was based upon the book of the same title by Alice Walker.
The rock star Prince played the lead in the 1984 movie Purple Rain. The film was very successful earning nearly US$100 million at the box office. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.
There’s a book called Women in Purple: Rulers of Medieval Byzantium by Judith Herrin about, three Byzantine empresses--Irene, Euphrosyne, and Theodora and how they changed history (In the eighth and ninth centuries). Their combined efforts restored the veneration of icons, saving Byzantium from a purely symbolic and decorative art and ensuring its influence for centuries to come.
According to Everything2.com “Contrary to popular opinion, the word "purple" does have rhymes in the English language. In fact, there are two rhyming words, abet words that aren't used in today's vernacular. Hirple is a British word, which means "to walk lamely or hobble". Curple is a word out of Scotland, which refers to the hindquarters of a horse.”
Nature is abundant with purple flowers: In fact, purple flowers are among the most popular with both men and women. Some purple (and shades of purple) flowers include Iris, Roses, Carnations, Dianthus, Violets, Sweet William, Daisies, Allium, Status, Hibiscus, Orchids, Morning Glories, Tulips, Crocus, Hydrangea, Lilac, Peonies, Liatris, Pansies, Wisteria, Stock, Larkspur, Chrysanthemums, Eryngium and Alstromeria to name a few.
In fact, in the past 2.5 years I have designed more purple themed wedding and bridal decorations than at any other time in my 27+ years as a florist.
From this post you may guess that one of my favorite colors is PURPLE! I love the way it makes me feel inside and out. Looking at it makes me smile and wearing it makes me feel special. How about you? Will you be wearing purple today? And what is YOUR favorite color?
5 comments:
You know, I don't own one thing in my closet that's purple. I just never thought the color looked good on me.
Is that just in the US, wear purple day? I'd not heard of that before and don't think it was promoted here in Oz. I look in my wardrobe and only have one item of purple amongst all the other colours. I guess it's a colour I've not thought about very much at all.
Heidi--
What fascinating information! I never had any idea why purple is the color of royalty and, thanks to you, now I do.
When I think of the color, I think of the poem by Jenny Joseph: "When I'm an old woman, I shall wear purple with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me..."
Either way, wearing purple is a royal treat!
Excellent post, Heidi!
Colors are so important in our lives. They give subliminal messages to others, change the vibration in our rooms or can even effect our moods and health.
Purple is a good one to love!!
Hugs,
Sally
THanks to each of you for your comments!
Beverly as Queen of the Divas, you would look good in anything, my dear!
Kathie, I am not sure if Wear Purple Day is International or just US. If not, why not make it so??? You too would look smashing in such a regal color.
Thanks Jackie for the reminder about that poem, it is one of my favorites and rings so true...
I say why wait until we are "old women" to wear purple!
And Dr Sally, thanks for the edification. I so appreciate your support and words of encouragement and agree about color and their vibration. I am very deliberate in my color choices for certain ocassions. Gotta give off the right vibes, you know!
Have a terrific day... ladies,
Heidi
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