What shades of blue can you see in the sky above, the seas below and elsewhere around you? How does the colour blue make you feel? The following explores the versatility of the colour blue found in nature and our everyday lives, including popular sayings with the word blue.
“The view through the blue”
Workers seen through a gap between wooden pallets painted blue
UC QuakeStudies
SYMBOLISM OF THE COLOUR BLUE
For many cultures, blue symbolises open spaces, freedom, wisdom, imagination, loyalty, trust, honesty, responsibility, commitment, confidence, faith, sincerity, sensitivity, calmness and serenity. It can also mean conservatism, old-fashioned, authority, predictability, weakness, coldness, sadness and depression.
Find out more: Colors explained: Meaning of the color blue
The sky above and the waters below are shades of the colour blue
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
As the sky is representative of heaven, the colour blue is often considered to be a spiritual colour for many
Edge of sea, blue sky and clouds
Antarctica New Zealand
Blue can also represent water's unsettling moments during stormy seas
Tongaporutu Coastline - storm waves, Mackenzies Bay, 19 September 2005
Puke Ariki
Religion
Christianity: Virgin Mary was traditionally shown in blue which became associated with holiness, humility & virtue
Antarctica New Zealand
Judaism: blue is the colour of God's Glory. Blue thread is included on garments as staring at blue aids in mediation.
Orthodox rabbi, Wellington
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Hinduism: Krishna is usually depicted with blue skin which radiated his aura (blue is the colour of inclusiveness)
Krishna and Gopis playing on a swing (hindola)
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
COLOUR BLUE IN NATURE
End of the rainbow
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Rainbow over Auckland.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Kite Surfer at New Brighton
Christchurch City Libraries
Into the Sun Set
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Sea swallow
Also known as blue dragon or blue angel - the blue glaucus is a sea slug
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Menzies' baby blue eyes
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Lapis-lazuli (used to create snuff bottle)
snuff bottle
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Sapphire (used to create pendant)
Goodletite pendant
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Spotted Shag
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Surrounding ourselves with Blue in everyday lives
Striped singlet top wrap skirt
New Zealand Fashion Museum
Man's jeans
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Blue swimsuit candlewick cape
New Zealand Fashion Museum
shoes
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
slippers
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Uniforms
The blue of uniforms evokes protection, bravery, & loyalty
Alexander Turnbull Library
Dish, sweet
Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato
Mug - Blue Willow pattern
Te Toi Uku, Crown Lynn and Clayworks Museum
Music
Blues music traditionally expressed emotions of sadness or melancholy due to oppression, hard times & relationships
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Dee Street Blues
Dunedin Public Libraries
Kiwi song titles
"Do the blue beat" performed by Dinah Lee
NZ On Screen
"Blue Smoke" composed by Ruru Karaitiana & music by George Winchester
Music Score, 'Blue Smoke'
Mataura Museum
Sports teams
The Blues is an Auckland rugby Union team
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Blues soccer team
MTG Hawke's Bay
Flags
NZ flag: Its royal blue background is derived from the ensign of the Blue Squadron of the Royal Navy
TV3
American flag: The colour blue signifies justice for all, as well as vigilance and perseverance
flag
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
United Nations flag: blue chosen as the colour is associated with harmony
United Nations flag
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
'-still blue' crystal glass sculpture
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Box of Reckitts Bag Blue
Howick Historical Village
Shades of blue
Aqua blue: light blue mixed with light green
Crown Lynn Design awards entry
Te Toi Uku, Crown Lynn and Clayworks Museum
Cobalt blue (was primary blue pigment used for centuries in Chinese blue & white porcelain)
Dish
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Cornflower blue: a shade of medium-to-light blue
Centaurea cyanus L. - Blue bottle, Cornflower
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
Periwinkle (Also periwinkle blue or lavender blue): light blue mixed with white & red
Blue Periwinkle
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Lapis lazuli blue (Air NZ logo and koru symbol in white against lapis lazuli blue background)
Sticker Air New Zealand
MOTAT
Navy blue: a very dark shade of blue originating from the use of indigo dye
TEMPERO, Lincoln John
Torpedo Bay Navy Museum
Sayings with the word 'blue'
Blue sky thinking
Thinking creatively; open-minded thinking not grounded in realities or practicalities of the present
Antarctica New Zealand
Have blue blood
Come from a privileged, noble / aristocratic family that is wealthy & powerful
Auckland Libraries
"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue"
The rhyme refers to 4 things a bride should wear on wedding day. Blue symbolizes fidelity and purity.
Kete Horowhenua
Blue stocking
An intellectual, well-read woman
National Library of New Zealand
Blue rinse brigade
Older, well-to-do women with conservative views involved on committees & charities who may also have blue-tinted hair
Howick Historical Village
Blue collar worker
The working class, especially individuals involved in manual labour
Alexander Turnbull Library
Once in a blue moon
Happens very rarely
National Library of New Zealand
Out of the blue / Out of the clear blue sky
When something happens unexpectedly, not predicted, surprising
Radio New Zealand
Into the blue
To vanish; to go into the unknown; to leave without a trace
National Library of New Zealand
Into the wild blue yonder
To a location far away that is appealingly unknown & mysterious
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Like a bolt from the blue
A sudden and totally unexpected event or piece of news that gives a big surprise
Radio New Zealand
To use blue language / The air was blue
To curse, to say obscenities & profanities
National Library of New Zealand
To yell/scream/shout blue murder
To show anger about something, especially by shouting or complaining very loudly
The Arts House Trust
Until you are blue in the face
You are wasting your efforts because you will not succeed. (Bluish skin colour due to lack of oxygen)
NZ On Screen
What in blue blazes...
Express extreme surprise, shock, confusion, anger. (Blaze refers to the fires of Hell)
National Library of New Zealand
Between the Devil and the deep blue sea
When In difficulty, faced with two dangerous alternatives
National Library of New Zealand
Black and blue
Dark marks caused by being badly bruised
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Monday blues
Feeling of reluctance of going to work and starting your work week
Radio New Zealand
Winter blues
Feeling depressed in winter which is medically known as "seasonal affective disorder" (SAD)
Radio New Zealand
Singing the blues
To feel sad and discouraged
Palmerston North City Library
Blue funk
In a state of worry or panic or terror or sadness or unhappiness for a lengthy period of time
National Library of New Zealand
Find out more:
Colors explained: Meaning of the color blue:https://www.colorsexplained.com/color-blue-meaning-of-the-color-blue/
The Phrasefinder: https://www.phrases.org.uk/phrase-thesaurus/exact/blue.html
RNZ: why your favourite colour is probably blue (4 June 2022): https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/468516/why-your-favourite-colour-is-probably-blue
Wikipedia: Blue: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue