Crimson's Symbolic Roles Across History and Culture
From marking rank in Elizabethan England to carrying coded messages in floral arrangements, crimson has accumulated a range of symbolic associations over the centuries. Its meanings have shifted with the times and the society using it.
By Avery Rivera
Crimson's symbolism changes with time and place.
Colors have long served as symbols for a person's rank, aims, or feelings. Crimson is one such hue, carrying different symbolic weight depending on the period and the culture. In Britain during the Elizabethan Era, crimson mattered as a marker of social position, and the practice of assigning meanings to crimson flowers has persisted from the 18th century through today.
Dress and Rank
Under the English Sumptuary Laws of the Elizabethan period—the latter half of the 16th century—crimson garments were strictly controlled. Only members of the royal family, nobles, and Council members were permitted to dress in crimson. As a result, the color came to stand for elevated social rank and authority in Elizabethan England.
Religious Significance
Crimson carried substantial religious meaning in Elizabethan society as well. Church leaders of prominence were shown in crimson robes, which tied the color closely to the church. In symbolic terms, crimson was linked to power, significance, and particular religious concepts. Within Biblical tradition, crimson represents the blood of martyrs or the presence of God. Humility and atonement are also strongly connected to crimson, and among liturgical colors it is most closely tied to Pentecost.
Floral Symbolism
The "language of flowers"—a system in which specific blooms carry set meanings and could thus be used for private communication—is thought to have begun in Turkey and gained popularity across Europe starting in the 18th century. In this older coded language, a crimson polyanthus stands for "the heart's mystery," and a dark crimson rose signifies mourning. The latter meaning has carried forward: in the language of flowers used in North America today, a dark crimson rose still denotes mourning.
