In Hinduism a lot of gods are depicted with blue-coloured skin, particularly those associated with Vishnu, the preserver of the world and thus connected to water. Shiva, the destroyer, is also depicted in light blue tones and is called blue-throated, for having swallowed poison in an attempt to turn a battle between the gods and demons in the gods’ favour – In Judaism . the Israelites were commanded to put fringes on the corners of their garments, and to weave within them a “twisted thread of blue”
In Britain, a bride in a wedding is encouraged to wear “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” as a sign of loyalty and faithfulness
Blue is often associated with excellence, distinction and high performance. The Queen of the United Kingdom and the Chancellor of Germany often wear a blue band at formal occasions. In the United States, the blue-ribbon is usually the highest award in expositions and county fairs.
Someone with blue blood is a member of the nobility: the term comes from the Spanish sangre azul, referring to the pale skin and prominent blue veins of Spanish nobles
Blue is also associated with labour and the working class. It is the common colour of overalls blue jeans and other working costumes. In the United States blue collar workers refers to those who work with their hands and do not wear business suits (“white collar” workers).
Blue is traditionally associated with the sea and the sky, with infinity and distance. The uniforms of sailors are usually dark blue, those of air forces lighter blue. The sky and the sea appear because, among the colours in the visible spectrum of light, blue has a very short wavelength, while red has the longest wavelength. When sunlight passes through the atmosphere, the blue wavelengths are disseminated more widely by the oxygen and nitrogen molecules, and more blue comes to our eyes. On the other hand, near sunrise and sunset, most of the light we see comes in nearly tangent to the Earth’s surface, and the colour red is more perceptible.
The sea is seen blue for basically the same reason: the water absorbs the longer wavelengths of red and reflects and scatters the blue, which comes to the eye of the viewer. The colour of the sea is also affected by the colour of the sky, reflected by particles in the water
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