Love is in the air today as the most romantic holiday Valentine’s Day is celebrated. A day dedicated to romance, love and the appreciation of loved ones. Celebrated for centuries, Valentine’s Day is most associated with declarations of love and affection and the giving of gifts, such as red roses, a box of chocolates, and greeting cards, with the most recognized symbol above all being the red heart. 
Red is the color most associated with love, passion, and celebration
In many parts of the world, red is the symbolic color of the heart and is commonly associated with romantic or courtly love and Valentine’s Day. The link between the color and love is believed to originate in the Romance of the Rose, the most popular poem in the Middle Ages, in which the author searches for a red rose in an enclosed garden, symbolizing the woman he loved, becoming a description of love in all of its aspects. Later, in the 19th century, British and French authors described a specific language of flowers – giving a single red rose meant ‘I love you’.
Yet the color carries many meanings, besides symbolizing love, happiness, and celebration, red is also the universal color of anger, warning, and danger. Being the color of the sunset as well as the revolution, fire as well as seduction, autumn leaves as well as attention – red is one of the most significant, and versatile colors in the spectrum with deep roots in culture and history.
Being the color of the sunset as well as the revolution, fire as well as seduction, autumn leaves as well as attention – red is one of the most significant, and versatile colors in the spectrum with deep roots in culture and history.
Various meanings due to culture, prior association and personal preference
Such a powerful color can evoke one reaction in one person, and the opposite in another, due to culture, prior association and personal preference, making the decision to use a significant one. While the red color in the West is associated with both the Cupid and the Devil, in the East it signals happiness, good luck, and is worn by brides, while in Africa, red is the color of mourning.
In design, red in its purest form can have an overwhelming effect while it is powerful when muted or used as an accent color. Most often used to portray power or passion, the colors many versions carry different implications; bright pinkish-red gives off energy and vitality while a darker shade feels elegant and sophisticated.
Matchmaking for Valentine’s Day with beautiful red papers and inspiring photography
Inspired by the holiday, the color red, and all it’s possible shades, from bright yellow-tinged scarlet and bluish-red crimson to pale red pink and dark red burgundy, we played match-makers and paired our favorite red papers by Europapier with stunning photography, for your inspiration. Find more Inspiration + Paper articles here.
Images © Pexels and Design & Paper