Many people wonder if there is a connection between the month someone is born in and the colors they are naturally drawn to. While there is no definitive scientific proof that birth months dictate color preferences, some interesting patterns and theories have emerged. In this article, we’ll explore the associations people have made between birth months and color favorites. We’ll look at the proposed explanations for these connections and what the research says so far. Understanding any possible link between birth month and color can provide insight into our personalities and preferences.
Anecdotal Connections Between Birth Months and Colors
There are plenty of anecdotal observations that those born in certain months tend to gravitate towards particular colors. For example, people often associate the bright, vibrant hues of spring and summer with April and August birthdays. The deeper, richer tones of autumn are linked to fall birthday months like October and November. Some commonly proposed color associations for birth months include:
| Birth Month | Associated Color(s) |
|---|---|
| January | Black, Blue |
| February | Purple, Lilac |
| March | Green |
| April | Yellow, Pink |
| May | Light Blue, Lavender |
| June | Orange |
| July | Red, Coral |
| August | Gold, Yellow |
| September | Brown, Olive |
| October | Rust, Wine |
| November | Gray, Peach |
| December | Silver, Ice Blue |
These proposed connections seem intuitive when considering the colors and seasonal associations of each month. For instance, July’s hot summer temps evoke shades like red and coral. December’s cold winter vibes relate to icy silvers and blues. But is there any real evidence linking birth months and color preferences? Let’s look at some possible explanations.
Theories About Birth Months and Color Psychology
A few theories attempt to explain the suspected relationship between birth months and color favorites. Here are some of the ideas proposed:
Weather and Seasonal Associations
This theory suggests that the colors dominating the natural landscape during someone’s birth month subconsciously influence their lifelong color preferences. For example, those born in April or May first experience the bright greens of spring, the pink and yellow flowers blooming, the pale blue skies. These happy, soft pastel shades imprint fondly and become intrinsically linked to them.
Astrology Connections
Astrologers attribute color preferences to astrological profiles based on birth dates and seasons. Certain colors are thought to be lucky or amplify the vibrational energy associated with each astrological sign. Leos are advised to wear golds and oranges, while Greens and blues are considered fortuitous colors for Libras. This assigns hues believed to match someone’s innate energy.
Cultural Associations
Many cultures traditionally associate different colors with various times of the year. In China, red represents summer and happiness. Blue symbolizes spring. These deep-rooted color meanings tied to seasons and months create instinctive emotional connections. Someone born when that color dominates the culture’s symbolism is thought to form an affinity.
Light Wavelengths
Some theories link ambient light wavelengths during certain months to visual development and color preferences. The argument is that an infant’s retinas experience dominant hues and light levels during early development that calibrate their vision and create preferences. So those born in winter months adapt to icy, low wavelength blues, while summer birthdays attune to the high energy reds and yellows.
Studies on Birth Months and Color Preferences
While these theories provide interesting supposition, concrete scientific evidence of birth month color linkages remains elusive. However, a handful of studies have made observations lending some credence to this concept.
Katz and Breed Study
In 1922, Dr. David Katz and Emily Breed conducted a comprehensive study on season of birth and color choices. Their research tested over 500 people’s color preferences across 4 seasons and 12 months. The results did show a noticeable pattern with certain colors being selected more often by people born in corresponding months.
For instance, people born in April, May and June preferred blues and greens. October births gravitated towards reds and purples. However, the study relied on subjective self-reporting and its scope was still quite limited. But it provided an early indication of seasonality affecting color selection.
O’Connor Study
Decades later, Dr. Johnson O’Connor conducted another large study on over 10,000 participants between 1930-1969. His findings showed fall birthdays preferred autumnal colors like burgundy, purple and green. Winter births liked blues and grays. Spring and summer babies selected brighter warm hues like reds, pinks and oranges.
The larger sample size lent more weight to the theory of seasonal color associations. Yet again, the study limitations included possible subjectivity errors and lack of a random sampling method.
Germany Twin Study
A Twin Study conducted in Germany in 2006 focused just on testing visual reaction times to color rather than stated preferences. Researchers showed sets of identical and fraternal twins rapid images of different colored squares.
They measured the reaction speeds and analyzed differences between twin sets born in different months. The results found a noticeable pattern with quicker reactions to colors that matched their birth month season.
While interesting, the study’s creators cautioned against over-interpreting the results as evidence of clear links between birth months and color preferences. More extensive research is still needed.
Personality Connections
If there are indeed subconscious color preferences tied to birth months, it may relate to associations people form with the prominent colors of the seasons they were born in. A child’s first sensory experiences shape their perceptions and emotional associations. So autumn births may feel an innate comfort and affinity for fall colors that echo this critical developmental period.
Beyond just color, seasons also impact mood and temperament. Some studies show babies born at certain times of year are more likely to have corresponding personality traits. For example:
| Birth Season | Associated Personality Traits |
|---|---|
| Spring | Optimistic, Creative, Extroverted |
| Summer | Passionate, Energetic, Confident |
| Fall | Analytical, Reflective,patient |
| Winter | Realistic, reserved, structured |
So it follows autumn babies may favor autumn hues that also relate to their tendencies to be introspective and thoughtful. Of course, many other factors shape personality, so this is not definitive. Still, seasonality and early sensory input seem to play some role in how we see the world and what we feel drawn to.
Conclusion
While the connections are not yet firmly proven, current evidence does suggest possible links between birth months and color preferences. Both intuitive patterns and a handful of studies indicate people tend to favor certain hues related to the season they were born in. Explanations like early visual development, cultural color symbolism, and seasonal personality traits provide plausible theories for these tendencies. More controlled, extensive research is still needed to say with any certainty if and how birth months influence color choices over someone’s lifetime. But the patterns are quite intriguing to consider when thinking about how our earliest experiences shape who we become.
