The Thursday Think Tank #68 - Red

What is red to you?  When you see the color or read the word what pops into your head?  Its an easy enough word to write about.  Below you will see a few interesting facts about the color red. Read through them and let it stimulate your pen.

Red is the color for beauty in many languages.  Red is the highest arc of the rainbow.  Red is the first color you lose sight of at twilight. The longest wavelength of light is red.

Bees can't see the color red, but they can see all other bright colors. Red flowers are usually pollinated by birds, butterflies, bats, and wind, rather than bees.

In Chinese culture colors corresponded with the five primary elements, the directions and the four seasons. Red was associated with summer, fire and the South.  In Japan red is the color of Shinto sanctuaries.  In Sweden, Falun red (red based on the pigment from the Falun mine) was reserved for the privelaged class.

In China red is associated with good luck and fortune.  In Greece Easter eggs are dyed red and the Greek expression "Piase kokkino" (touch red) is said when two people say the same thing at the same time. It is believed that the event is an omen that the two will have an argument in the future, which can only be broken when the two touch the closest thing that is red .  In England, red phone booths and red double decker buses , are national icons.

In India, a red mark on the forehead is said to bring good luck.  Red is the color most associated with the Soviet Union during communist reign.  Over the past decade, scientists have reported the successful use of red light as an effective in the treatment of migraine headaches and cancer.

In the United States, beginning with the 2000 presidential election, red has been recognized to represent the Republican Party, and "red states" are states that tend to favor the Republicans.

Eric the Red is the Norweign Viking credited for colonizing Greenland... he earned his nickname from his bright red hair and beard

Red carpet treatment: giving privileged treatment to an important person.  Red in the face: to become embarassed.  Seeing red: to be angered.  Red flag: a warning of danger.  Not worth a red cent: having no value.  Red letter day: a memorable, joyful day.  Red tape: excessive formalities in govermental process.  In the red: a term to describe an economic loss.  In the financial arena, red symbolizes a negative direction.

Feng shui recommends painting the front door of a home red to invite prosperity to the residents.

According to "The Language of Stained Glass" at Armstrong Browing Library at Baylor University: When

Dante spoke of the Seraphim - the first of the nine choirs of Angels - the color that "glows" was the pure orange vermilion which his fellow citizens and brothers-in-spirit (the painters, illuminators, and glassmen) knew as red. So, it may be said that pure red is the color of divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, and all the warm impulses that belong to the great-hearted everywhere.

Red is the color that means "severe" in the color-coded threat system established by presidential order in March 2002. This system quickly informs law enforcement agencies when intelligence indicates a change in the terrorist threat facing the United States.

We hope all these odd facts about red have caused you to think.  We cant wait to see what you will pen today.  

Come back for Mr. Lynky around lunch

If you have a prompt idea (even a Music or Film inspired one) that you would like to suggest or share with us please send it to poetsunited@ymail.com . We keep a folder set aside with all your suggestions and just might use it one day.

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