Memorial Day is a wonderful holiday for so many reasons. It’s a day we remember those brave people who came before us and sacrificed all they had for their country. It’s also the unofficial kick-off for summer in the United States. Yes, it’s technically still spring, but Memorial Day is the first holiday of the warmer weather that Americans gather for picnics, fireworks, barbecues, cocktail hours, and beach parties! Of course, as a color expert, I get very excited about the design opportunities with Memorial Day colors!
This article will examine the classic Memorial Day colors that have become synonymous with the holiday. Also, we will look at some contemporary Memorial Day color ideas and explore how you can change your design schemes to bring a fresh look to this cherished holiday.
A Little History
When envisioning Memorial Day weekend, most of us instinctively think of the classic patriotic ensemble of red, white, and blue from the American flag. While this is true that these colors do play a big part in Memorial Day celebrations (as they do for 4th of July celebrations,) the iconic red has some particularly unique and significant history to it.
The vibrant red that we associate with the holiday represents the poppy flower, which has been linked to the holiday since WWI. Poppys are technically weeds, but no one thinks of them as pests, but more as signs of hope, rebirth, and resilience.
Poppies have been observed growing in fields that have been ravaged by war, and there’s even a famous poem called “In Flanders Fields”. Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote the poem from the perspective of fallen soldiers beneath the battlefields, as they observed the poppies growing after the battle. Today, you may notice veterans or others observing the holiday wearing poppy red to observe the holiday.
While the whites and blues of Memorial Day color palettes and design schemes have a less traceable history as the red does, most like to think of the honorable qualities synonymous with those colors and the American flag. In the context of Memorial Day, white is representative of purity, innocence, wisdom, and honesty. Blue represents regality, trustworthiness, earnestness, and integrity. We value all of these qualities in our military and each other. These qualities embody the best that Americans can offer and paint a great portrait of the human spirit.
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Traditional Memorial Day Color Design Ideas!
Many of us get together with friends, family, neighbors, and loved ones to celebrate the holiday. Whether you’re having an elegant dinner or a big fun barbecue, there are plenty of ways to incorporate traditional memorial day colors into your color scheme.
Red, white and blue can be utilized in many different ways, and I’m not just talking about paper plates and plastic cups! Color-inspiration is all about adding colors and design schemes to areas that haven’t been explored before!
Here are a few ways you can incorporate traditional memorial day colors into your home or event:
Dress up your dining arrangements:
A Gingham patterned tablecloth just screams Americana. The checkered patterns and woven fabric are deeply nostalgic and timeless, simultaneously. Picture a red and white Gingham table cloth accompanied by deep-blue dishware and white napkins. It’s beautiful and appropriate for gatherings of all types!
Patriotic lanterns
If your Memorial Day event is outdoors, you can use lanterns of all types to add some color-inspiration to the event. You can purchase paper lanterns without much expense, but a lovelier idea is to outfit the hanging lights you already have with red, white, and blue colors! You can do this by simply attaching some light tissue paper around the outside of your lights/lanterns. At night they will glow a charming red, white and blue!
Floral arrangements
When I think of Memorial Day flowers, I picture lilacs as they are seasonal to that time of year and often symbolize fallen veterans. I think an arrangement of red poppies, violet-blue lilacs, and white tulips not only looks beautiful but it subtly honors the holiday tastefully and sentimentally. Adding these arrangements to your event will leave a lasting impression on your guests.
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Contemporary Memorial Day Colors
You may be asking yourself, “Amy, what exactly are contemporary Memorial Day colors?” I completely understand this sentiment; we instinctively think of the traditional Memorial Day colors as the only color palette for the holiday. However, recently, there have been some alternative color selections worked into the holiday as well.
Memorial Day is synonymous with branches of the military, and militaristic colors have found their place in Memorial Day color palettes, and I must say, it’s very exciting to see. These colors include military greens (think of subtle olives and wasabi greens), yellow (the official color of the armor branch), and purple (to represent the purple heart of valor).
A base layer of olive green for men or women, broken up by highlights of yellow and accents of deep purple, is truly a breath-taking combination and would work perfectly as a way to celebrate your Memorial Day with pride!
Memorial Day is about honoring all those who served their country and believed in the greatest potentials of America. Celebrating them is to honor them, so let’s honor them with colors that truly represent the spirit of the day.
Please reach out with any questions you have regarding Memorial Day colors!
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What a wonderful post, Amy, helping us all to know how these colors came to represent Memorial Day – a day we honor all veterans, past and present, for their service to our country.
Yes Leslie, and it’s such an important holiday to pay tribute to!
Fascinating to learn the history of the poppies associated with the red of the holiday. And I love the idea of the contemporary options too!
Thanks Janet, I love looking at new ways of applying color in our lives!
Than you for sharing the history of the colors associated with Memorial Day!! Love both traditional and contemporary options!
Thanks Christie, I am always open to trying a new approach, looking back at the history gives us new ways of doing that!
Thank for sharing this. I love that you have tied in so much history to color. I love all the options but am a traditionalist and will likely stick with the poppy red and blue this year!
You certainly can’t go wrong with the traditional red, white and blue Tiffany 🙂
While I knew about the history of poppies, I did not know about more contemporary colors and how they represent the branches of the military and the purple as a symbol of the heart of valor. I appreciate you sharing these insights with us.
Thanks so much Lisa, I love the stories behind the colors in our lives!
Being Canadian, I really associate your Memorial Day with red, white and blue. I love that your educated me about the contemporary colours and their connection to the military!
Thanks Sheri, Many people assume red, white and blue is the only way to go. I am glad you are open to these new ways of celebrating this holiday!
So interesting to know about the red poppies and the meanings behind some of the other colors associated with the holiday. I can picture how striking an arrangement of red poppies, violet-blue lilacs, and white tulips would be. Such a nice color combination. Great post!
You are so right Mary Ann, and trying new colors give us reason to think about how each color relates to the holiday!
I too love the idea of the contemporary options. such a great post, Amy! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Chari, using contemporary colors makes it a whole new holiday with the same valuable purpose!