Christmas season has ended and Blue Christmas has played many times over as part of the season’s playlist. Its not a particular favourite of mine. On the other hand, we all have our favourite shades of blue—for it is the world’s most popular colour and occurs in 71% of all national flags. We are inhabitants of the blue planet, surrounded by blue skies and the vast blue oceans. We know, of course, that the neither the sea nor the sky are actually blue, but the perception shapes our preference.
A new hue…
Quite surprisingly, blue is a fairly new colour entrant, unlike red or ochre—pigments which have been known since ancient times. The ancient Greeks had no word for it, describing the sea variously as green, brown or wine-coloured!
rare and precious…
That’s because blue is one of the rarest pigments in nature. A mere handful of animals and birds, just a few minerals and precious stones (salts of copper; turquoise and sapphire) naturally occur in shades of blue. The pigment ultramarine, produced from lapis-lazuli was, for centuries, more expensive than gold and sparingly used by artists to depict royalty, nobility or godliness!
Unappetising…
Even rarer are blue edible things in nature— blueberries are more purple, as are aubergines, our own jamun (java plum), and the purple varieties of grapes, cabbage or bell pepper. This paucity of naturally occurring edible blue made our ancestors (and us) wary of blue food. Blue beverages are more acceptable—so cheers to a blue curaçao; but, a wrinkle-nosed ‘ugh‘ to blue bread! Don’t believe me?—simply try eating blue rice on a blue plate followed by blue custard.
..and deadly
Even more relevant is the association of the colour blue with poison. The few blue animals of the world – the brilliant blue poison dart frog, the blue-ringed octopus, the Arizona bark scorpion are known to be highly venomous. The association of the colour with poison occurs in our own mythology—of Lord Shiva ingesting the halahal poison churned up during Samudra Manthan and retaining it in his throat. Hence his name ‘Neelkanth‘.
Language reflects a similar association of blue with death. Going ‘blue in the face’, denotes a lack of oxygen and an excess of deoxygenated ‘impure’ blood— often a precursor of death. Many poisons—notably cyanide, cause death by this mechanism. Unhealthy tissues (such as King Harald’s ‘bluetooth‘, a frostbitten fingertip, or a gangrenous limb) often turn bluish, another association with disease and dying.
A blue for every mood
Blue has defined our sartorial choices for millennia. Indigo, the dye that clothed the world from Japan through Asia, Africa and Mesoamerica continues to weave its magic spell. Midnight blue silks swish over lush carpets, electric blues dazzle, powder blues come and go with the seasons, while blue jeans go on forever! From Beau Brummel to the hard working cowboy, there is a shade of blue for every person, every occasion and every mood!
Different shades of blue are associated with their own quality and symbolism. As the colour of crystal-clear lakes and pools it is cool, clean, calm and serene. Like the sky overhead, it is non-threatening thus creating a safe haven that invites creativity. And if you’ve ever wondered why sober navy is a ‘uniform’ choice for executives and security forces—its because it instils trust and confidence.
The story of blue is indeed one of vast contrasts. Rare but everywhere. It dwells both in the heart of the fierce flame and in the icy frost. In pure mountain lakes and impure blood. Royal or noble (blue-blooded), favoured and loved (blue-eyed), it can spiral into the ‘blues’ of music and melancholia. From the Blue Zones of longevity to the Code Blue of near-death, we live in the shadow of blue.