Yellow is such a bright and bold color that it’s nearly impossible to miss. If there’s yellow nearby, it’s likely the color your eyes are drawn to first. Since yellow is so unique, there’s a wealth of fascinating knowledge about this color that most people have never heard about.
Get ready to explore some fun and surprisingly exciting facts about this cheerful hue.
1. Seeing Yellow Can Make You Feel Happier
Yellow is a color of happiness, optimism, and positivity. To most people, this is nothing new. However, many don’t realize that those effects are backed by science. When we look at this bright hue, our brains can respond positively. The release of a chemical known as serotonin plays a role in this, as it works as a neurotransmitter that can improve our moods and help us feel happier overall. Of course, the psychological associations of the color may be the biggest reason why most people feel uplifted when seeing yellow.
Companies often use yellow in advertisements to evoke joy in viewers. This cheery color can have other positive effects, too. Since yellow is so bright, it could cause your brain to wake up, improving your concentration as a result.
2. Large Amounts of Yellow May Cause Frustration
While yellow is generally a positive hue, being exposed to too much yellow could do more harm than good. Yellow stands out more than other colors, so when it’s used in large amounts, it can be overwhelming to look at. Studies indicate that a yellow room is more likely to make babies cry and adults lose their tempers. It could also cause fatigue. So, yellow is a beneficial color, but like all hues, it’s important to have an ideal balance.
Yellow can also have other negative effects, such as encouraging fear, deception, and excessive caution. The exact meaning and emotions related to yellow varies greatly based on the context.
3. Yellow Was Once a Color of Royalty
Most people associate purple with royalty, but in some cultures, yellow was a significant color for wealthy and powerful individuals. Chinese feudal society is one of the most notable examples. At the time, yellow was a color that only royalty could wear because it signified authority and status. During the Tang dynasty, there was a reddish-yellow hue representing the sun that only royalty could wear (commoners were forbidden to wear it). Similar rules applied during the Qing dynasty, where “imperial yellow” was reserved for royalty only.
In some cultures, yellow represented the gods. For example, in Ancient Egypt, yellow was associated with eternal beings and indestructible objects like the sun, so they often depicted their gods with gold skin. While yellow is often seen as a bright and cheery color today, it held some strong meanings throughout history.
4. Yellow Used to Be a Controversial Color
Since yellow is such a positive color today, it’s hard to believe it was ever looked down on. Yet, there have been moments in history where yellow was considered controversial. In Victorian England, a magazine called The Yellow Book altered the meaning of the color yellow. It had some content that was deemed inappropriate, and the bright yellow covers warned people of this. So, they began associating yellow with being risqué. This made some people dislike the color overall and fail to see it as a positive hue.
5. Pink Once Referred to a Yellow Hue
Back in the 1400s, the term “pink” was used to describe a yellow-green color instead of a light red one. The word came from the German word “pinkeln,” meaning urination, which is likely what the color made people think of. Pink eventually transitioned to the name for a pale red color in the late 17th century or early 18th century. It’s unclear why the name of the color took such a drastic turn, but it obviously stuck.
6. Yellow Is One of the Oldest Pigments
Yellow Ochre is one of the oldest pigments in history. It’s a natural earth pigment found in some of the world’s first cave paintings, dating back to prehistoric times. It comes from an iron mineral called goethite, which leaves such a long-lasting color that it can even stain skin. Even though so much time has passed, yellow ochre still appears bright in cave paintings. It was usually paired with red ochre, another bold, long-lasting pigment.
7. Stop Signs Were Originally Yellow
Today, stop signs are known for being red. Red was always the planned hue for these signs because people associated red with stopping. However, starting in 1924, stop signs became yellow instead of red because all the available red pigments at the time faded quickly. Yellow is also a bright color that can be easily seen both during the day and at night.
This design obviously didn’t stick long-term. By 1954, standard stop signs changed color from yellow to red. Long-lasting red pigments became available, allowing people to create durable red stop signs. They were also able to give the signs a reflective finish so they appeared brighter at night, like the yellow signs. Plus, yellow alerts people to slow down in other contexts, so yellow stop signs would lead to some confusion on the road. Overall, red just made the most sense.
8. The Creator of the Yellow Smiley Face Didn’t Earn Much
For younger generations, yellow smiley faces seem like they’ve been around forever. In reality, the first official smiley face was invented in 1963 by American artist Harvey Ross Ball. While it was only a quick drawing for him, it became a huge success after he drew it. In total, Ball only earned $45 for his smiley face because he never trademarked it. Today, people draw yellow smiley faces and use them daily as emojis, all because of Ball’s joyful yellow art piece.
9. Combining Yellow With Red Might Evoke Hunger
Color combinations can evoke certain emotions, and one of the most notable examples is yellow and red. When exposed to yellow and red, people often feel hungrier. Both are high-energy colors, so they can stimulate your appetite by associating joy and excitement with good foods. When food is advertised next to these colors, it might make it look more appealing.
Many companies use this to their advantage, which is why many fast food logos and packaging use red and yellow designs. You might be drawn to these food brands without even realizing it because of color associations.
10. During Daylight, Yellow Is the Most Visible Color
Yellow is the most visible color during the day and is also bright enough to stand out at night. Its brightness stands out from all the colors around it, no matter the lighting. It’s also highly visible in foggy conditions. Yellow provides contrast and falls in the middle of the visible spectrum, making it easy to see. So, objects that need to stand out, such as some lines on the road, warning signs, school buses, and taxis, are yellow for a reason. Your eyes are likely drawn to yellow items first without you even noticing.
11. The Yellow River Is Known for Its Strange Hue
The Yellow River is the second longest river in China, flowing for 5,464 km (3,395 mi). Its name is very fitting because instead of blue, the water appears yellow-brown across most of the river. This peculiar color is caused by the water carrying a large amount of silt and sediment with it, making it look yellow or brown. If the river overflows, it leaves behind a yellow residue from the silt on the shore.
While the river’s color might look unappealing, it helps create fertile land nearby for farming. However, the river is polluted in many areas, so it’s not safe for drinking or swimming. It has also been flooding rather frequently, causing destruction and danger to nearby areas. While its unusual color is fascinating, it’s best admired from a distance.
12. Yellow May Not Be Ideal for a First Date
Yellow is considered a bright and cheery color for a first date, and while it certainly will catch most people’s attention, you may want to avoid it until you get to know the person better. Yellow typically indicates friendship, not romance, so wearing yellow could make them think you only want to be friends. It might also suggest that you’re not serious about the date. So, if you want your first date to feel laid-back, it might work well, but in most cases, it’s best to stick to a classic color like black, red, white, or blue.
13. Yellow Pages Wasn’t Yellow on Purpose
Yellow Pages, the phone directories, had a fitting name because the books had yellow pages. That memorable name didn’t appear until after the book was printed. It’s believed that in 1883, the printer ran out of white pages and used yellow pages instead. Yellow paper was more readily available at the time, so it made sense to continue printing them that way.
Soon, people associated the yellow paper with phone directories and continued to print them on yellow paper. Even though phone directories are mostly online today, people still frequently call them Yellow Pages because that’s the name everyone has gotten used to saying. While the Yellow Pages website isn’t all yellow like the physical directories were, it still keeps some yellow accents.
