Each of us wonders what the meaning of butterfly colors is when we see them. Butterflies are incredible insects whose wings hold an array of colors from black to brown, blue, red, and orange.
Butterflies are insects that people find really beautiful, along with dragonflies and ladybirds. And certainly, their colors have different symbolic meanings taken from folklore.
Before reading more about the meanings of butterfly colors, it is important to know that butterflies have their symbolic meaning. So, we will cover the most admired butterfly colors and their symbolism below.
What Do Butterfly Colors Symbolise
Butterflies are insects with numerous symbolic meanings.
The colors of the butterfly are associated with love, wisdom, hard work, which are true graces of the soul. The butterfly symbolizes the immortality of the soul, and if you see more butterflies, it could mean a divine blessing.
Butterflies symbolize the soul, and the Chinese associate them with eternal life.
The butterfly confers the power of transformation as it develops as a larva, evolves into a caterpillar, and then becomes one of nature’s most beautiful insects.
Butterflies can be seen as a sign of support, and that’s why they can appear when you’re going through hard times.
Below is a summary of the symbolism of the butterfly colors:
- Blue butterfly: a symbol of prosperity and a sign of rebirth and change;
- White butterfly: a symbol of purity and spiritual transformation. It can be associated with peace;
- Yellow butterfly: a sign of hope;
- Black butterfly: a sign of transition and renewal;
- Orange butterfly: a symbol of the soul associated with life energy;
- Red butterfly: a symbol of passion and love;
- Green butterfly: a sign of prosperity.
In American culture, the butterfly symbolizes change and transition as it goes through many changes throughout life.
They also say that seeing a butterfly on the first day of summer is a sign of good luck.
The Tewa tribe (New Mexico) considered the butterfly to represent the souls of the dead and the arrival of good weather.
Butterfly Colors in Religions and Cultures
The butterfly has several cultural and biblical meanings. The butterfly is a symbol of immortality in some cultures.
Butterfly Colors in Religions
If in Egypt, the butterfly was associated with resurrection; in Christianity, its meaning was associated with reincarnation and rebirth.
The Chinese also appreciate butterflies as a symbol of long life and beauty.
Interestingly, in Greek symbology, butterflies are a symbol of love, and Greek mythology considers butterflies a symbol of soul and immortality. This symbolism is similar to that of the Japanese, who consider them a symbol of feminine beauty and joy.
As for the biblical significance of butterflies, there is no mention of them, but Mycenaean culture mentions them as accompanying Despoina, the Goddess of the Dead.
This culture uses the same idea as in pre-biblical Christianity, where butterflies were considered an early form of life forms.
Mexicans and Aborigines in Australia associate butterflies with the souls of historical warriors.
Butterfly symbolism is very different from culture to culture.
Thus, while some Islamists associate the butterfly with the end of humanity, Jews worship it, and Wiccans regard it as a symbol of joy and light.
Even in Feng Shui, the butterfly symbolizes long life and is also a symbol of beauty.
Butterflies Colors in Different Cultures
Americans revere butterflies for various reasons, including the Blackfoot people, who believe they bring peaceful sleep.
In Chinese and Japanese mythology, white butterflies are considered to be dead souls. The Maya also consider butterflies to be the souls of dead warriors.
In Japanese culture, it is even a sign that one of your deceased ancestors is trying to reach you.
When two butterflies fly together, Japanese culture considers it a sign of a blessed marriage.
If we consider the metamorphosis of the caterpillar into a cocoon and later into a butterfly, its journey is associated with the spiritual journey of mankind.
Butterfly symbolism is not much different in Celtic culture, where butterflies are thought to be colorful creatures capable of traveling to supernatural realms and carrying with them the souls of the dead.
Butterfly Colors Meanings
The symbolism of the butterfly is closely related to its colors, with each color representing a different meaning. The meaning of the butterfly colors can be found below.
Red Butterfly Meaning
Have you ever wondered what color butterfly represents love? Red butterflies are a symbol of love, passion, and romance.
There are numerous meanings for the color red. According to color psychology, red is a symbol of passion and sensuality.
Butterflies were thought to be a symbol of evil creatures (England) or even witches (Scotland) in some cultures, and were considered a sign of danger.
Also, a Korean superstition considered red butterflies to be evil and that you could go blind if you touched one.
Brown Butterfly Meaning
Brown, the color of the earth, is often found in butterflies, as this color symbolizes new beginnings and living things.
Butterflies can be predominantly brown or brown entirely, this color helping them to camouflage themselves in wooded or dark areas.
Messages from the afterlife or even important news are said to be carried by brown butterflies, according to folklore.
White Butterfly Meaning
Although not as colorful as others, these butterflies stand out slightly because of their brightness and angelic appearance.
A white butterfly can inspire calm and assurance, and they have deep spiritual meanings; white butterflies stand for purity and harmony.
According to Japanese mythology, the color white represents the sun-bleached bone and is associated with death.
Yellow Butterfly Meaning
Each culture has a unique interpretation of what the yellow butterfly means. The color yellow is very similar to the color gold, which is linked to mental maturity and, particularly, to the color of the Sun.
Yellow butterflies are considered to be a messenger of wisdom and truth. It can also be regarded as a messenger of the Sun.
Yellow, the color of sunshine, is often associated with warmth, happiness, and energy. Thus, the meaning of yellow butterflies can be linked to hope, blessing and even joy.
While in modern society, yellow butterflies are thought to bring happiness, in some cultures, they are thought to bring bad luck or doom.
Pink Butterfly Meaning
Pink butterflies are often interpreted as a representation of purity and innocence. Additionally, they might represent change and metamorphosis.
A pink butterfly could be a sign that something is changing in your life.
Pink, regarded as a joyful and nourishing red-derived color, does not have a rich symbolism.
Pink butterflies can be a sign of healing. It may even symbolize that you are about to get what you want.
Orange Butterfly Meaning
Bright and special, the orange butterflies symbolize passion for your life’s ideals.
So when you see an orange butterfly, it can be a reminder that you are distracted from your main goal, and it’s time to get back on track.
Orange is the color of energy, enthusiasm, and optimism. Thus, orange butterflies symbolize encouragement, enlightenment, and mood enhancement.
The lifespan of orange butterflies is shorter than other butterfly colors, and this stems from the fact that they cannot hide as easily as those whose color helps them camouflage.
Orange butterflies are also associated with healing.
Blue Butterfly Meaning
As beautiful as blue butterflies are, you don’t see them very often.
As beautiful as blue butterflies are, you don’t see them very often. Blue butterflies are associated with messages of joy and good signs.
Blue is also considered a symbol of healing. Native Latin Americans, from Mexico to Colombia, see the blue butterfly as a wish-fulfiller. Here live the blue morphos, a different species of large butterflies of Morpho, with a brilliant metallic luster on the surface of their wings.
The color blue is a symbol of imagination, inspiration, intellectual power, trust, and loyalty. So when you see a blue butterfly, it can be a sign that you’re having a moment of inspiration that will help you find solutions to one of your biggest challenges.
Green Butterfly Meaning
Green is linked to ideas of rebirth, renewal, and hope.
Green butterflies symbolize prosperity and success or even potential good fortune.
Although the last mentioned symbolism comes from the association of the color with American money, in Chinese culture, green butterflies symbolize good luck.
Green butterflies can symbolize prosperous relationships or careers, as green is often perceived as a symbol of prosperity.
The most negative symbolic connotation refers to the fact that this color can predict the death of a loved one.
Black Butterfly Meaning
Although some consider the color black a sign of endings or bad news, others consider the black butterfly a symbol of hope and longevity.
In some cultures, seeing a black butterfly symbolizes a reminder to pay more attention to the baby boy.
A folkloric interpretation of black butterflies symbolizes letting go of the past and the end of suffering, especially if seen in the morning.
The Japanese culture associates the black butterfly with death, which is considered a sign of misfortune, while the Chinese consider it a sign of illness and bad luck.
Genetics of Butterfly Colors
Butterflies exist in an impressive range of colors. The genetic purpose of butterfly colors is to either blend in with their surroundings, absorb heat, or even find a partner.
Certain species with bright colors can warn predators to stay away.
Butterfly colors come from colored pigments or structural colors. So each molecule has its own color, or it absorbs some colors of light and reflects others, which we see as colors.
Thus, the blue color of butterflies comes from structural pigments whose molecules are black, but their shape makes them reflect blue light. So, depending on light intensity and angle, butterflies can look blue.
White butterflies originate in microscopic air bubbles that reflect light and are a structural color. This color is very common in birds.
Black, brown, or grey butterflies contain a type of pigment called melanin, also found in humans. This type of pigment colors hair and skin, and in other animals and insects, it can color feathers or fur.
Red, orange, and brown butterflies use a type of pigment called Ommachrome, which is common in insects. This pigment often colors the eyes.
Yellow and cream butterflies use a Papiliochrome pigment, which makes patterns in ultraviolet light. These patterns are not visible to humans, but they are visible to butterflies.
Orange butterflies use a pigment called pterin, especially those in the Pierid family, to give them their orange color.
Conclusions About the Meanings of Butterfly Colors
Even though butterflies of all colors have meanings around the world, the meanings of their colors vary from culture to culture. They usually represent hope, joy, and peace.
The fact that they live for short periods of time can lead us to think that life is so short that it is worth enjoying every moment.