Today’s crossword topic may come out of the blue, but it is in honour of the colour that we associate with serenity and the azure.
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The colour blue is considered to be calming, since it is often associated with the sky and the sea – two natural, seemingly endless features of the Earth that inspire a sense of peace and serenity. It is also the least common colour in the foods we eat, and one of the rarest eye colours – only eight per cent of the world’s population has blue eyes!
When thinking about how we use the word ‘blue’ in conversations, I was curious to learn why phrases like, “I’m feeling blue” or “I have the blues”, link the colour to depression or sadness. There are diverse explanations why.
One such explanation goes all the way back to Greek mythology. Apparently, when the deity Zeus would get angry, he would create a storm, but when he was sad or hurt, he would make it rain. And so, the link between the colour of water and the feeling of sorrow.
Another explanation is from the British navy. Many old deep-water sailing ships had a custom of flying blue flags if the ship lost its captain or any of its officers during the voyage. The entire hull of the ship would also have a painted blue band when returning to the home port.
And of course, the connotations are part of psychology as well. A research paper by the University of Macerata in Italy found that the hue itself is a major reason for the emotion – the proximity of dark blue to black on the colour spectrum, and its historical grouping with darker colours, contribute to the colour’s link to depression and fear.
So, knowing the origins of the phrase, don’t be blue for long! Play today’s crossword and tell us if you found it interesting at games@gulfnews.com.
