The colour white is steeped in tradition and symbolism. Of course there are also those who say white is not a colour. For arguments sake, it all depends on which way you are defining what makes a colour, so it can be a colour or not be a colour. Whichever way you choose to look at it, white is all around us.
White is often seen as a symbol of purity, innocence, wholeness and new beginnings – hence the traditional white dress worn by brides. In Elizabethan times pristine white was also seen as a colour for the rich only. Crisp white is still popular today as a symbol of fresh, clean crispness. White shoes too are all the rage at the moment. White goes with pretty much anything: hot colours look even brighter, subdued pastels can be given a lively touch, black and white make the ultimate contrast statement and of course white with white is clean and pure.
White flowers have a range of meanings, but again are nearly always associated with purity. A single white rose is the symbol of purity and everlasting innocence and love. It can also represent secrecy. A white chrysanthemum stands for truth and a white carnation pure love. Occasionally white flowers can also represent death, and are often used at funerals, particularly lilies and dried white flowers.
Have you ever wondered why white chocolate is white? Just like milk or dark chocolate it is made from the cacao beans. White chocolate though uses cocoa butter. Because none of the chocolate liquor from melting down of the solids is used it doesn’t have the darkness of other chocolates. It doesn’t have the caffeine that other chocolates have in it either.
White noise is the term used to describe a combination of all the different frequencies of sound, much as white light is made up of all the different colours (frequencies) of light combined together. White light is used to mask other sounds. If you think of one person’s voice, turning on white noise is like adding a 1,000 other voices (or frequencies) to it and your brain can no longer pick out the single voice.
There are many magical and beautiful qualities to white, though too much of it can seem clinical and harsh. Nearly everyone though can appreciate the sheer beauty and delight of a White Christmas, even if someone does have to clear the path come Boxing Day.
