Gold is one of the most important and also most common colours. It is one of the two metals. In in-German heraldry, it is also referred to as 'Or'.
In the Middle Ages, gold was used as a pure, unmixed colour in the form of gold leaf. Due to its high cost, imitations such as brass were also used. However, the most practical solution was simply to use yellow, with the result that the heraldic colour 'yellow' became absolutely equivalent to gold. When dyeing with yellow, yellow-colouring plants were used, of which there were – and still are – many. Until the discovery of cadmium yellow in 1825, yellow could not be produced in a vivid shade and varied depending on the plant used.
In black-and-white depictions of coats of arms or three-dimensional representations of coats of arms carved in stone, gold (yellow) is represented by fine, tiny dots. Gold (yellow) is associated with the sun and the gemstone topaz. It is regarded as the colour of virtue and, because of the high value of gold, also as the colour of the rich and the nobility.
Today, the colour yellow – particularly on flags – is associated with prosperity, grandeur, grain, the sun and light. In some regions, such as China, Thailand, Indonesia and some Malay states, yellow is regarded as a royal colour.
In colour psychology, yellow is said to have a stimulating, invigorating effect. It is also associated with restlessness, dynamism, warmth, life, joy, pleasure, wealth, envy, jealousy, cowardice, warning, intrusiveness and betrayal.
In fact, yellow also has negative connotations. It is the colour of Judas, who betrayed Jesus, and thus became the colour of the Jews, who were forced to wear it as a distinguishing mark on their clothing. The proverbial expression 'green with envy' (in Germany: 'yellow by envy') has been well known since time immemorial; in North America, it also stands for cowardice.
Yellow is a colour closely associated with Buddhism, particularly the shade known as saffron yellow, which derives from the saffron crocus, a plant used for dyeing that was already known in the Middle Ages.
Of course, yellow is also a political colour. In German-speaking countries, it is predominantly used by left-liberal groups.
