A colour’s symbolic meaning should be read in the context of a particular object and occasion.
A documented example#
The Smithsonian National Postal Museum explains red as a symbol of luck in the Lunar New Year imagery of a stamp series. Its examples combine colour with animals, writing and festive objects.
How to examine another object#
Record the material, date, maker and intended use. Read the curatorial explanation before assigning a meaning to the colour. Compare that interpretation with the inscriptions and imagery you can actually see.
Limits of the example#
One festive example does not establish the meaning of every red object, let alone a fixed national rule for every colour. This page offers no evidence that wearing a colour changes a person’s luck.