Purple

Purple is seen as a “difficult” and very personal color. Perception of its meaning shifts as it moves from blue (spiritual or mystical) to red (sensual). Purple has historic associations with royalty and luxury, since for many years the dyes used for purple were very expensive. It also has cultural associations with creativity and independent thinking. In Feng Shui, purple is a yin color, and belongs in the wealth and blessings corner. Violet is the color of the seventh chakra, Sahasrara, the center of enlightenment. Purple is one of the official New Orleans Mardis Gras colors, and in that usage represents justice. During the Victorian era, purple and lavender were considered sufficiently somber to be part of the official “half mourning” period as a widow gradually moved out of the more stark black dress of full mourning.

Almost 75 percent of pre-adolescent children prefer purple to all other colors, making bright purple effective for promotion of children's products. Light purple is useful for feminine designs. Excessive exposure to purple may cause people to become sullen, withdrawn and ill-at-ease with their surroundings. Purple is a polarising colour - people either love it or hate it.


Cultural Examples:
Thailand: Color of mourning (widows)
Western: Royalty
European : Royalty
Catholicism : Mourning, death, crucifixion
Feng Shui : Yin, spiritual awareness, physical and mental healing

http://www.sibagraphics.com/colour.php
http://www.hilwerda.com/color.htm
http://webdesign.about.com/od/color/a/bl_colorculture.htm