Introducing green
 Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye than most colors, and is second only to blue as a favorite color. Green is the pervasive color in the natural world, making it an ideal backdrop in interior design because we are so used to seeing it everywhere.
The natural greens, from forest to lime, are seen as tranquil and refreshing, with a natural balance of cool and warm (blue and yellow) undertones. Green is considered the color of peace and ecology.
However, there is an "institutional" side to green, associated with illness and government-issued green cards, that conjures up negative emotions, as do the "slimy" or "bilious" greens.
How the color green affects us physically
- Relaxes mentally, as well as physically
- Helps alleviate depression, nervousness, and anxiety
- Offers a sense of renewal, self-control, and harmony
Green: The color of the heart chakra
 Green is the color of the Heart Chakra, also known as Anahata.
This chakra is located at the center of the chest area and is linked to the heart, lungs, circulatory system, cardiac plexus, and the complete chest area.
The Heart Chakra bridges the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds. Opening the Heart Chakra allows a person to love more, empathize, and feel compassion.
Gemstones that will aid the Heart Chakra include jade and malachite.
Green around the globe
- Green is used worldwide to represent safety.
- In several religions, green is the color associated with resurrection and regeneration.
- In Ghardaia and other parts of M'zab, houses painted in green indicate that the inhabitants have made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
- Green, blue-green, and blue are sacred colors in Iran, where they symbolize paradise.
- As the emblematic color of Ireland, green represents the vast green hillsides, as well as Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick.
- In Japan, green is regarded as the color of eternal life.
- In Aztec culture, green was considered to be royal because it was the colour of the quetzal plumes used by the Aztec chieftains.
- The solid green flag of Libya is currently the only national flag of a single color.
- In China, jade stones represent virtue and beauty.
- In Portugal, green is the color of hope because of its associations with spring.
- In the highlands of Scotland, people used to wear green as a mark of honor.
- There is a superstition that sewing with green thread on the eve of a fashion show brings bad luck to the design house.
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Religious & mythological associations with green
- In several religions, green is the color associated with resurrection and regeneration.
- Green is a powerful color according to the ancient wisdom of Kabbalah, because it is the color of the Central Column that stands between right and left, positive and negative, giving and receiving.
- Green is the color of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty.
- The prophet Mohammed wore a green cloak and turban.
- The God of fertility in Celtic myths was associated with green.
- Green is the color associated with Sunday in the Catholic church and the altar cloth is usually green for Sunday services.
- Green is the color that represents Irish-Catholics, while orange represents Irish-Protestants.
Political associations with green
- Ecological supporters adopted green as the color to represent their movement.
Interesting information about green
- Green was the favorite color of George Washington, the first President of the United States.
- The color green signifies mystical or magical properties in the stories of King Arthur.
- Green is one color that means "low" or "guarded" in the color-coded threat system established by presidential order in March 2002. This system quickly informs law enforcement agencies when intelligence indicates a change in the terrorist threat facing the United States.
- Green is the color used for night-vision goggles because the human eye is most sensitive to and able to discern the most shades of that color.
- Bright green is the color of the astrological sign "Cancer."
- Green ribbons have been used by a range of environmental groups to symbolize organ donation and transplant, awareness of Bipolar Disorder, solidarity with Chechnya, and support of farmers in America.
- Modern absinthe dates from 1792, when Dr. Pierre Ordinaire commercialised it as a cure-all. Then, Henri-Louis Pernod founded the Pernod Fils absinthe company in 1805, seeing its aperitif potential. Absinthe's moment came with the 1840's Algerian wars, when French soldiers drank it as a prophylactic against disease. They brought it home, and by the 1860s, Parisian cafes had established 5pm as "l'heure verte" - "the green hour."
- NASCAR racers have shared a bias against the color green for decades. Reportedly, it began after a 1920 accident in Beverly Hills, California, that killed defending Indianapolis 500 champion Gaston Chevrolet. It was the first known racing accident in the United States to kill two drivers, and Chevrolet reportedly was driving a green car. Tim Richmond once refused to drive a car sponsored by Folger's decaffeinated coffee because the primary color was green. He wound up in the Folger's regular coffee car - and its red scheme. But the fear of green cars is fading, primarily because sponsors are willing to pay $15 million to splash their colors on a race car. Green is now the primary color of cars driven by Mayfield, Marlin, and J.J. Yeley.
Green in athletics and sports
- In auto racing, a green flag signals the start or resumption of a race.
- The green belt in Judo symbolizes green trees. Just as a green tree is the tallest living thing, so should our own pursuit of knowledge be, aiming high and keeping the goal of our achievement (top of the trees) in high esteem.
Green as a signature color
Companies or brands identified primarily with green
- The Masters Golf Tournament
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Popular phrases that include green
- Get the green light: get approval to move ahead or proceed with a project or task
- Green corn: the young, tender ears of Indian corn
- Green thumb (US) or Green fingers (UK): an unusual ability to make plants grow
- Green room: a room (in a theater or studio) where performers can relax before or after appearances
- Greenback: a legal-tender note issued by the United States government
- Greener pastures: something newer or better (or perceived to be better), such as a new job
- Greenhorn: novice, trainee, beginner See why
- Green around the gills: marked by a pale, sickly, or nauseated appearance
- Turn green: to look pale and ill as if you are going to vomit
- Going green: when someone or something makes changes to help protect the environment, or reduces waste or pollution
More Colorful Phrases & Their Meanings...
Quotes about green
“Green how I want you green. Green wind. Green branches." -- Federico Garcia Lorca
"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises." -- Pedro Calderon de la Barca
"He had that curious love of green, which in individuals is always the sign of a subtle artistic temperament, and in nations is said to denote a laxity, if not a decadence of morals." -- Oscar Wilde
“Absolute green is the most restful color, lacking any undertone of joy, grief, or passion. On exhausted men this restfulness has a beneficial effect, but after a time it becomes tedious.” -- Wassily Kandinsky
“Green represents the dead image of life.” -- Rudolf Steiner
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What it says about you when you buy a green vehicle
There is no question that the vehicle you drive is an extension of your personality -- an unspoken, but clear message to the rest of the world.
- The message you send by driving a vehicle that is Dark Green: Traditional, trustworthy, well-balanced.
- If, however, your vehicle is a Bright Yellow-Green, you give a different impression: Trendy, whimsical, lively.
From The Color Answer Book by Leatrice Eiseman with permission
Songs with green in the title
- "All the World Is Green" by Tom Waits on "Blood Money"
- "Blue in Green" by Miles Davis
- "Early Morning Blues and Greens" by The Monkees
- "Evergreen" by Barbra Streisand
- "Evergreen" by Switchfoot
- "Everything's Gone Green" by New Order
- "Forty Shades Of Green by Johnny Cash
- "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea" by The Cure on "Wish"
- “Green River” by Credence Clearwater Revival
- "The Grass is Green" by Nelly Furtado
Green in the garden
- Green is one of the cooler colors in landscape design and it brings a soothing element to the garden.
- Green plants visually recede, helping to make a small space appear larger.
- Green's complimentary color in the garden is red; red flowers stand out beautifully against green.
Green and our sense of taste
- Green vegetables are abundant and most are very nutritious. Although not seen as frequently, there are also green fruits. A few of my favorites are listed below.
- There are two main types of limes -- regular green limes, officially known as Persian limes, and the much smaller (and higher in acidity) Key lime.
- Bright green and crunchy green beans are available at your local market throughout the year. They are in season from summer through early fall, when they are at their best and the least expensive.
- The fleshy green spears of asparagus are both succulent and tender and have been considered a delicacy since ancient times.
- The hearty structure, fresh appearance, and ease of preparation, combined with its exceptional nutritional value, help to make broccoli one of the favorite vegetables of health-conscious American consumers.
- Packed with more vitamin C than an equivalent amount of orange, the bright green flesh of the kiwi fruit speckled with tiny black seeds adds a dramatic tropical flair to any fruit salad.
- Green tea is rapidly gaining popularity in the western world. Its natural aroma and widely acclaimed health benefits make green tea appealing to both the tea lover and the previously non-tea drinker. Many varieties of green tea are available at SpecialTeas.
Green and our sense of smell
- "Lime" was the original scent of the bright green colored Magic Scents Crayons from Binney & Smith Inc., introduced in 1994 with mostly food scents. However, there were numerous reports that children were eating the food-scented crayons, so the food scents were retired and replaced with non-food scents. The scent for the color bright green became "eucalyptus."
- AromaPod, a scented lifestyle tool, uses the color green with the scent that provides calm.
- Lime is a fragrance that is refreshing, uplifting, and purifying. It is an aroma that can be cooling on the hot days of summer.
Tell us what you know about the color green
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Kate Smith, founder and contributing editor of Sensational Color is a color expert, strategist and 
