whether displayed in dresses, the background of pictures, or otherwise:
Black typifies grief, death.
Blue, hope, love of divine works; (in dresses) divine contemplation, piety, sincerity.
Pale blue, peace, Christian prudence, love of good works, a serene conscience.
Gold, glory and power.
Green, faith, gladness, immortality, the resurrection of the just; (in dresses) the gladness of the faithful.
Pale green, baptism.
Grey, tribulation.
Purple, justice, royalty.
Red, martyrdom for faith, charity; (in dresses) divine love.
Rose-colour, martyrdom. Innocent III. says of martyrs and apostles, “
Hi et illi sunt flores rosarum et lilia convallium. ” (
De Sacr, alto Myst., i. 64.)
Saffron, confessors.
Scarlet, the fervour and glory of witnesses to the Church.
Silver, chastity and purity.
Violet, penitence.
White, purity, temperance, innocence, chastity, faith; (in dresses) innocence and purity.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
