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Inspiration in the color burgundy.

Learn the history and meaning of the color burgundy and its origins in French wine.

Design with burgundy

Get inspired with burgundy design templates.

The color burgundy likes to be in charge. Now you know how to be in charge of it.

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What is the meaning of the color burgundy?

The color burgundy was named after the rich, red-brown shade of wine from the Burgundy region of central France. Burgundy color calls more than wine to mind today, though. The color burgundy can be a dark rosebud. It can be the ripest and sweetest cherry. Burgundy color can be a dramatic shade of lipstick. Burgundy is the most colorful leaf come autumn, too.

Burgundy color is more sophisticated than standard red. Burgundy still carries some of the meanings of red, but it says it differently.

The history of burgundy color.

The color burgundy is rich with meaning.

Burgundy color takes charge wherever it goes. Like true red, burgundy demands attention. It sparks instant associations with force, strength, and power. Its exact meaning depends on how it’s applied. Burgundy was first used to describe the color in the 1800s. The flood of French wine into England during that period inspired the name. The first examples of burgundy color were in interior design and fashion, especially in formal settings.

Burgundy made its way to lipstick — and stuck.

Burgundy color made its way into cosmetics just in time for the roaring 1920s. Before lipstick, burgundy was most popular for hair dye. Theater actresses dyed their hair burgundy to imply wealth or sexual appeal. High class women followed suit, and the demand for burgundy color hair dye spread. Shortly after that, the color burgundy became a popular shade of lipstick suggesting the same appeal.

The 1990s gave burgundy new movements to latch onto.

Burgundy color lipstick became much more popular in the 1990s. Burgundy was then adopted by gothic fashion because of its unruffled intensity. Today, burgundy is also associated with European Union passports, which elected burgundy color as a symbol of unification. Burgundy is also the color of the soccer selection of Venezuela.

The color burgundy across different cultures.

Burgundy color has become a symbolism of officialism.

The popularity of burgundy as an official color is partly a result of how commanding the color is. Burgundy is also tied to blood and everything blood represents, like passion, valor, and sacrifice. Just count how many university emblems are rich in burgundy color. In Ancient Greece, burgundy togas were only used for solemn feasts. The Catholic church uses burgundy everywhere from its pew ropes to its school yard uniforms.

The history of burgundy in the Catholic church is especially long.

Though the word “burgundy” only appeared in English in the 1800s, the color burgundy has been an important color to Catholics for centuries. Burgundy color often symbolizes the blood of Jesus of Nazareth and the fellowship wine served at mass. When worn by priests, burgundy takes on the meaning of sacrifice.

Outside of religious contexts, the color burgundy symbolizes wealth and opulence.

In the West, burgundy has layered associations with wealth and class. In some parts of Europe, burgundy is instead called “bordeaux” (after the Bordeaux region of France). No matter what region the inspiring wines came from, full bodied French wines were considered among the best in England in the 1800s. Burgundy color is also less flashy than red, allowing its intensity to take on a classier look.