Why Are Orange and Black the Halloween Colors? The Truth Revealed

Most likely, when it comes to Halloween, you think of trick-or-treaters, scary movies, and jack-o'-lanterns. However, there's another thing that probably springs to mind that a lot of people link with the occasion: the hues of orange and black.

Why are orange and black the Halloween colors? Discover the meaning and history of these two spooky colors in this post!

Why is orange and black Halloween colors?

Why Are Orange and Black the Halloween Colors?

Although it may appear that orange and black have always been the "official" colors of Halloween, this is not the case.

As stated by the Isle of Halloween, the Druids and Celts celebrated a holiday known as Samhain in the 18th century. 

Samhain is a Gaelic festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the start of winter, or the darker half of the year. It takes place in the late evening of October 31 and into November 1 every year.

According to History.com, the night of October 31 signaled the end of summer and the harvest as well as the start of a gloomy, chilly winter that was frequently associated with human mortality.

Why are the Halloween colors black and orange?

Black

The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1st, and they believed that the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead had become hazy the night before. 

With that in mind, they dressed up in costumes and lighted enormous bonfires to ward off ghosts. And it gave rise to the color black, which is used to symbolize darkness and death.

Given that Halloween is a nighttime celebration, black also makes perfect sense, especially in light of the holiday's associations with many eerie creatures and spirits, such as cats, spiders, bats, the Grim Reaper, and more.

Black symbolizes darkness and death

Orange

Even though orange is seen the most in pumpkins, they weren't around during the first October 31 celebrations observed by the Celts.

Orange, on the other hand, celebrates and symbolizes life and the abundance that comes with an autumn harvest. This hue might be seen as warm and uplifting because of its stark contrast to black. 

It may also be associated with Halloween since it is the color of fire, and in the fall, pumpkins and certain foliage turn orange.

When it comes to Halloween, you may not have given the mix of fall and winter themes much attention, but it makes perfect sense if you take into account when the celebration falls on the calendar. 

Orange brings a warm and uplifting atmosphere

How About Other Halloween Colors?

Now you have understood why are the colors of Halloween orange and black. But do you know that other colors have also been considered Halloween hues — specifically purple and green?

Purple

While purple isn't as common as orange and black around Halloween, it's still present due to its association with all things spiritual and mystical.

It's purple's connection to religious rituals (it's often worn by priests) that ties it to the ancient history of October 31. 

Alternatively, it could have anything to do with a more recent phenomenon:

The introduction of purple to Halloween "may be tied to the evolution of the commercialism of the holiday," according to a Scientific American article, as research indicates that customers today frequently associate purple with children and laughing.

Purple is also used during Halloween

However, according to the Isle of Halloween, purple is connected to mystery and witches on Halloween. 

Witches have traditionally been shown as wearing completely black, although in more recent times, they have also been seen with traces of purple on their caps or attire.

Green

Another hue that is occasionally related to Halloween is green. This one is simple; it features slime and monsters and is also utilized in glow-in-the-dark Halloween decorations. 

Furthermore, you should definitely avoid any green mist that you come across since it is abnormal and occasionally frightening, which are the feelings sometimes associated with the holiday.

Green is another Halloween color

Red

Although red isn't a color that's often utilized in Halloween décor, you could see red writing over black signs suggesting danger. Red may be used in costumes and décor to simulate blood coming from a vampire's mouths!

Red is not a common color for Halloween

White

White is a hue that can be utilized in a million various ways for this occasion, much like eyeballs. In addition, it is the color of skeletons and bones, which are prevalent around Halloween across the whole country. 

You may combine white with any other color to make it stand out while decorating or making costumes, or you can use pure white to give your holiday décor a stylish, clean farmhouse vibe!

White is the color of eyeballs

Yellow

The colors yellow, brown, and gold represent the harvest. They also symbolize the passage of time from autumn to winter. The leaves that fall from the trees have these hues, which signal to us that it's time to get out our sweatshirts and sweaters. 

Also, candlelight-illuminated jack-o'-lanterns show yellow inside. You may use these colors in your décor to make your sign sparkle or to portray royalty. 

You can use yellow for Halloween decorations

Nowadays, there are many activities you can do to enjoy this spooky season, including watching one of the best Halloween movies of all time, listening to good Halloween songs, or preparing delicious Halloween appetizers. 

The Psychology of Color

"As the first thing we notice about an object, color is one of the most psychologically powerful and memorable design aspects," stated Amber Dunford, style director at Bed Bath & Beyond.

People frequently respond to an object's color before they do to its shape, texture, or scale. 

Because of this tendency, color is an extremely effective marketing technique that is hard to ignore once it has taken root in our minds, she continues.

You can't help but think of Halloween when you see these hues, regardless of whether you like the traditional Halloween colors or the expanded palette featuring purple or green.

The meaning behind the colors of Halloween

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