Ok, we exaggerated. We’re not going over 50 shades of green, but we are going over 9 shades of the hue that is strongly associated with Ireland and the Irish. Green signifies growth, renewal, health, and the environment, and many shades have a calming effect on the viewer. Pretty nice, right? So in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day, we thought we’d tell you a bit more about the history and meanings of some of our favorite shades of green.
Emerald Green
Emerald green is a especially symbolic of Ireland, which is often referred to as “The Emerald Isle.” This verdant shade of green is said to bring abundance in all forms.
Kelly Green
Another shade of green closely associated with the Irish and St. Patrick’s Day is Kelly Green. Derived from the common Irish family name, Kelly, it is reminiscent of the lush green Irish landscape.
Celadon
Celadon is a bit confusing. The word refers to both the color (a delicate pale blue green) and the distinctive greenware that is covered with a transparent glaze and is often associated with Chinese and Korean pottery. For centuries in China it was known only as mi se meaning “mysterious color,” but came to be known as Celadon after the character in in Honoré d’Urfé’s pastoral romance, L’Astrée (1627), who wore pale green ribbons.
Seafoam Green
This soothing color, which is a mix of light blue green and grey, is often associated with the astrological sign Pisces. It has a soothing effect on the viewer and brings about thoughts of renewal and nature.
Mint Green
Named after the plant, mint green is a fresh, light color that makes us think of spring. It is associated with enthusiasm and creativity (and it makes us think of mojitos and mint chocolate chip ice cream!).
Lime Green
Named after the tangy citrus fruit, lime green falls right between yellow green and yellow on the color wheel. Don’t be surprised if you get a jolt of energy and creativity looking at this fun shade of green.
Chartreuse
This bold yellow-green color is named for its resemblance to the French liqueur. This bright hue can increase positive thinking and optimism, and people who gravitate towards this color are generally open-minded, imaginative, and crave variety.
Olive Green
Olive green is a color traditionally representing peace (as in extending an olive branch). It invokes wisdom and compassion, and is associated with harmony, diplomacy, and self-love.
Hunter Green
Hunter green is a representation of the color worn by hunters in the 19th century. The first recorded use of hunter green as a color name in English was in 1892 and since then it has become a popular color for sports teams, including the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.