The Symbolism of Color

In The Primary Colors, Alaxander Theroux lists off all the different symbolic values of the color blue.  While it is said that music is the great connector of the world, maintaining the same relevance throughout cultures regardless of language barriers, I'd suggest that color is the great confuser of the world.  

Women in America traditionally wear white on their wedding day to represent purity in their celebration, whereas in China, a woman would wear white to a funeral to symbolize mourning.  As Theroux talked about in The Primary Colors, each color has vastly different and unrelated symbolism in each culture across the globe.

 However, there is one thing I noticed when considering what this suggested (that no one really sees the color as the same).... and that is the color red.  Red means various things, from beauty to war to good luck.  But I'm sure there's one thing about red that spans the world, and that is communism.  

The beautiful flag of the soviet union, with the five-pointed star and red symbolic of communism...

The Chinese flag, also with the five-pointed star and red of communism...

The North Korean flag, with more red and five-pointed stardom.

So red may mean a million things in a million different places, but it has become an international symbol for communism.  It's interesting how color can make such a difference in the world.

Oh, and just for fun... ;)