Let's talk Pink

In the fashion world today, they say Pink is the new Black. The color pink has acquired a lot of popularity and acceptance in the recent past, surprisingly even among men too. "Men in Pink" is the happening thing these days.

Sometime back, I decided to find more about this color and what it portrays. Here are some interesting facts about the color pink, which I picked up from Wikipedia:

• "Pink" was not a color word known to Shakespeare. He used words like "light red" to describe pink.

• Pink, though popular is a vile color that should be avoided at all times.

• The color pink is now associated with womanhood, just like blue is associated with boys and manhood.

• In Catholicism, pink symbolizes joy and happiness.

• Pink, along with red, is traditionally used on maps for territory ruled by the British Empire or for members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

• "Paint the Town Pink" a phrase that arose in the 1950s reflecting its influence on fashion and design and the popularity of pastel colors.

• Pink is the color of the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon. Breast cancer is a leading killer of women, and pink was chosen partially because it is so strongly associated with femininity.

• Pink, being a 'watered-down' red, is sometimes used in a derogatory way to describe a watered-down socialist ('Pinko').

• Similar to white collar, there is a term Pink collar, which refers to female office worker (sometimes used in a derogatory manner).

• While the west typically refers to adult films as "blue movies", in Japan these films are often called "pink movies".

• Pink, is also associated with gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, often in the form of a pink triangle. In Britain, Pink News is a leading gay newspaper and online news service. In business, 'the pink pound' or 'pink dollar' refers to the spending power of the GLBT community.

Quite interesting, isn't it? I too never knew these shades of pink before…