Colour and Money

The colour red is associated with money in a number of way, some which of which are interestingly contradictory.

For example, in the west, it is bad to be ‘in the red’, as not only does mean you don’t have money, but it also suggests you’ve lost money. Whereas in China, red is synonymous with gaining money, as red envelopes with money in are given or exchanged during many special occasions such as weddings or the new year celebrations.

This suggests that there is no inherent link between money and the colour red, but instead one that is built entirely by cultural association.