By: Cheryl M. Luis
Today is Chinese New Year and it is the year of a ‘Water-Tiger.’ Chinese people believe that adding color and color schemes will help bring you good luck.
While researchers have studied the psychology of color for centuries, there’s no scientific evidence that certain colors can determine certain reactions — though it is true that specific hues are symbolic in many cultures around the world. But hey, if some people say certain color palettes bring luck and good fortune in the New Year, why not wear those colors!
If you’re skeptical about just how much thought you should put into New Year’s colors, consider that some cultures have been consuming lucky New Year’s Eve food for centuries. And hey, if people have been eating grapes and noodles for good luck on December 31, then it can’t hurt to throw on some hopeful tones of yellow or bright and bold green hues, either.
To spark your imagination and give you some inspiration for the big holiday, here are the best New Year’s Eve colors and color combinations to consider.
RED: GOOD LUCK
Putting red front and center is a great choice for Chinese New Year. In Chinese culture, red is associated with good luck, so it can’t hurt to don a shade of red as we enter the New Year, who knows you will be lucky this year!
WHITE: FRESH BEGINNINGS
If you find yourself fantasizing about having a fresh, clean start in the New Year, wearing bright white can be a good choice. White is traditionally associated with new beginnings, purity, and a fresh slate, so you can’t go wrong.
YELLOW: PROSPERITY
Donning yellow (or gold) could be a good choice as the color traditionally represents prosperity and riches — because, you know, gold is always a treasure.
SILVER: FINANCIAL SUCCESS
The color silver is often associated with ornate, glamorous, graceful, sophisticated, and elegant things. What’s more, it also represents financial success, much like gold.
PURPLE: POWER & AMBITION
One-color that you might be slightly surprised to learn is traditionally associated with New Year’s Eve is purple. The connection is pretty obvious once you realize it, though. Since purple is traditionally associated with royalty and power, it makes sense that it would be fitting for the fanciest celebration of the year.
GRAY & YELLOW: RESILIENCE
According to Good Housekeeping, the combination of gray and yellow could be a good choice for New Year’s as they were both 2021 colors of the year, according to Pantone, which noted the colors both represent resilience and positivity — and who couldn’t want more of those things in the new year?
GREEN: GROWTH & ENERGY
Green is a slightly more surprising option that could bring you equally good vibes as you close out the year. According to ColorsExplained.com, green traditionally means harmony, growth, freshness, and energy. If you’re looking to bring those things into the year ahead, wearing green couldn’t hurt.
SILVER & GOLD:
Combining silver and gold on New Year’s Eve is a great way to channel all the luxurious, successful, glamorous vibes you can. Plus, if you’re looking to have a good year when it comes to money, wearing colors associated with financial success, as mentioned above, certainly can’t hurt.
Though colors can bring you good luck and success this 2022. But we must also consider working hard to reach our dreams and aspirations. /PN
