Purple

Purple is any of a variety of colours between red and blue in the colour spectrum, including mauve and violet.

It is a colour that has long been associated with royalty and the aristocracy around the world because the Tyrian purple dye, which is made from mucus secretions of a particular species of snail was extremely expensive in ancient times.
And still is these days!! When a German chemist tried to recreate Tyrian purple in 2008, he needed twelve thousand molluscs to create 1.4 ounces of dye, which was just enough to colour a handkerchief. In the year 2000, a gram of Tyrian purple made from ten thousand molluscs according to the original formula cost two thousand euros.

And the natural world loves purple too.
Sunrises and sunsets can be very purple, and many flowers, birds, fish and insects wear the royal colour!!

Violet-backed starling

Yellowfin surgeonfish

Lavender fields

Also gemstones like amethyst, but other gemstones like diamonds, sapphires and topaz can also come in purple.

Purple is a very soothing and restful colour, so let’s ease our way through Sunday by sharing all things purple, as well as our usual friendly fun and chat!!