Five shades of red

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. For months now, I have been greeted by its symbol of romantic love: the color red, in the guise of hearts, candy, teddy bears, and numerous other sweet nothings. It’s been making me reflect on the red color in general, and more specifically about the origin of some of its more intriguing names: scarlet, cinnabar, vermilion, crimson, and carmine.

As a non-native English speaker, I first encountered scarlet as the name of the heroine of “Gone with the Wind”, Scarlet O’Hara. It would be much later that I also learned that scarlet was a red-orange shade of red, and it symbolizes courage, passion, power, and joy. Perfect for Scarlet O’Hara, I might add. The name itself comes  from  the name of a red Medieval woolen cloth, scarlet, which, fine and luxurious, was often used in coronations. 

Cinnabar and vermillion are rich and vibrant reds, with an orange undertone. These two names are often used interchangeably, although cinnabar is a mineral, while vermillion is a pigment. Chemically, though, both are mercury oxide and very poisonous. Not that this fact dissuaded anyone from utilizing them, even in Chinese lacquered food dishes. Cinnabar is thought to derive its name from an Indian phrase for “dragon’s blood,” due to its rich hue. Vermillion’s name, on the other hand, is less poetic and it comes from a Latin word for a small worm, vermis. 

Crimson, the deep red with purple tinges and a suggestion of blue, and color often reserved exclusively for royalty, is made from the Kermes vermilio insects. The insects were dried and ground, resulting in the red pigment. The name itself is thought to arrive from the Persian word for red, “qirmiz,” but also from the insect’s name. Regardless of the origin, the name is forever associated with power, intrigue, and love.

Carmine might be my favorite of the names for red hues. Disappointingly, its name is based on a pretty prosaic Sanskrit phrase “krimiga,” which means “insect-produced.” Carmine is produced by drying and grinding cochineal, a type of dessert-dwelling insect from Mexico. Fun fact: we often eat carmine as one of the natural food dyes. Red M&M’s will never taste the same. Ditto for the red velvet cake.

Valentine’s Day, shades of red, chemical compounds, and bugs. All in the service of love.