"Color is a power which directly influences the soul." Wassily Kandinsky
This week's theme was 'True Colours'. Colour plays such a big part in our lives. It brightens our day to see a colourful bird or flower; it adds a certain something to our appearance to wear a vividly coloured item of clothing; colours can warn us of dangers in our immediate environment and food always tastes better when it is the colour we expect it to be.
Such is the power of colour in our lives, an 'International Day Of Colour And Light' has been assigned on 21st March each year. As the description of the meaning of the day says, "Colour is, thanks to visual perception, one of the most influential phenomena in people’s lives and also one of the channels that contributes most greatly to the perception of reality."
Then there is the 'Holi Festival' on 18th March. 'Holi' is a 24 hour festival based on the legend of Krishna, who was self-conscious about the blue colour of his face due to being poisoned by contaminated breast milk. Krishna was in despair because he believed Radha and other girls wouldn’t like him. He told his mother, who advised him to paint his face so that his colour wouldn't matter. 'Holi' is celebrated by thousands of people throwing paint around and getting covered in different colours. Colours are made with natural ingredients such as turmeric, beetroot, and berries. In 'Holi' the meanings of colours are as follows ... Red – the ultimate colour of love, passion, and fertility. Blue – the colour of Krishna’s face, and also the sky and oceans. Yellow – the colour of knowledge and learning, symbolising happiness, meditation, and peace. Green – the colour of nature, symbolising the start of Spring and new beginnings. Pink – the colour of caring and compassion. Purple – symbolises magic and mystery.
DISCUSSION
We asked members to come along to the group wearing something of their favourite colour.
We asked people why those colours were their favourite? Did they find that colour particularly calming or stimulating?
Was the colour choice based on a happy memory? Or was there something else?
We next discussed members hair and eye colour and observed the main colours within the group and room.
IDIOMS
Show your true COLOURS
Nail your colours to the MAST
In glorious TECHNICOLOUR
Out of the BLUE
All that glistens is not GOLD
Born with a silver spoon in your MOUTH
Green with ENVY
Caught RED handed
Roll out the red CARPET
Once in a BLUE moon
BLACK sheep of the family
Tickled PINK
White ELEPHANT or LIE
Between the devil and the deep blue SEA
Look through rose tinted SPECTACLES
Golden OPPORTUNITY
Paint the town RED
Little brown JUG
Pink makes the boys WINK
Feeling off COLOUR
Pass with flying COLOURS
To be kept in the DARK
Shadows and LIGHT
Night and DAY
Every cloud has a silver LINING
The grass is always greener on the other SIDE
Wave a white FLAG
FIRST SONG. 'Yellow Submarine', The Beatles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2uTFF_3MaA
Name as many yellow things as you can?
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
ROUND 1. Nature
1. Excluding black and white, what are the three Primary Colours? (Colours that can be mixed to make other colours)
2. Complete this phrase, "Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning..."
3. What percentage of people have blue eyes in the UK?
a. 8%
b. 28%
c. 48%
4. What percentage of people in the UK have red hair?
Who is pictured here?
a. 1%
b. 10%
c. 50%
5. What substance, seen in nature, is green?
6. What is the largest animal on the planet? (Size is up to 98ft / 180 tonnes)
7. Which animals can change colour to camouflage themselves?
Which pop group had an 80s hit single with the name of this creature in its title?
8. SONG. ' I Can Sing A Rainbow', Cilla Black - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXds_mkyuXY
What are the seven colours in a rainbow?
ROUND 2. Colours In Daily Life
9. What year was colour TV introduced in the UK?
10. What colour is the neutral wire on a modern British domestic plug?
11. What is the order of colours in UK traffic lights?
12. What colour describes old brown-and-white photographs?
Which scientist is pictured here?
13. Which DIY product does an Old English Sheepdog advertise?
14. What colour is the M in the McDonald's fast food chain signage?
What is the name of the clown?
15. Complete this phrase about marriage - "Something old, something new ...."?
16. SONG. 'True Colours' - Cyndi Lauper - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ecaYj14z3M
Complete the titles of Cyndi Lauper's other UK (Top 10) hits?
'GIRLS - .... ..... .... ...', 1984
'TIME ..... ....', 1984
'I ..... ... .....', 1989
ROUND 3. People
17. Who famously danced with Fred Astaire in movies from 1933-1949?
18. Which actor was nominated for Best Actor Oscar for his lead role in the 1973 movie 'Sting'?
19. Who starred as Celie in the 1985 movie 'The Color Purple'? (The book was written in 1982, by Alice Walker.)
20. Who starred in the 1971 film 'A Clockwork Orange'?
21. Who was the lead singer songwriter of 'The Moody Blues'?
22. Which Barbra Streisand song won an Oscar for 'Best Original Song' in 1977?
Here it is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Ro7baEa6w
23. Which DJ was the first to broadcast on Radio 1 in 1967?
Here is the first song ever played ...
24. SONG. ‘Flowers In The Rain’, The Move - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_laosNxqzNg
Which orange flower is mentioned in the first verse?
ROUND 4. Geography
25. Where in the UK would you find the 'Black Mountains'?
26. What is the name of the Scottish village made famous by runaway marriages?
27. What resin sometimes contains fossilised insects?
28. Which gemstone grows inside a sea creature?
29. Which planet in our solar system is known as 'The Red Planet'?
30. Which mythical creature can be found on the Welsh flag?
When do we celebrate in that country?
31. Near which town in the UK would you find 'The White Cliffs'?
What substance are the cliffs made of?
Here's the Vera Lynn song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaaK5-WEzyk
32. SONG. 'Mr Blue Sky', Electric Light Orchestra - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GswbT5zfmRE
What are the four main cloud groups?
ROUND 5. Sports
33. What colour is the Bulls Eye on a dart board?
Who is pictured here?
34. In which cycling race does the leader wear a yellow shirt?
Who is pictured here?
35. What was the name of the snooker game broadcast initially in black and white from 1969?
Who is pictured here?
Here is the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nXUPHR17FI
36. By what name are the New Zealand rugby league tourists known?
What is their dance called?
Here it is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiKFYTFJ_kw&t=4s
37. Name the Welsh Paralympian who was made a Dame in 2010?
38. What do the five colours of the Olympic rings signify?
39. During the 2012 UK Olympics, how many post boxes were painted gold in the home towns of Olympian and Paralympian champions?
a. 10
b. 51
c. 110
40. Gold - Spandau Ballet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjNXwSeLuTU
Who was the lead singer?
Ask members to point to any items of gold they are wearing...
BONUS ROUND. Literature
41. In ‘Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs’, written by The Brothers Grimm in 1812, what were the names of the seven dwarfs?
42. Which character said, “My Grandma, what big teeth you have!”?
43. In 'Goldilocks and The Three Bears' what food substance was eaten?
44. What is the name of the bully from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' (written by Thomas Hughes in 1857)?
45. Who wrote the children's book 'Black Beauty' in 1877?
TV theme here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hasBJ1Gkjy8
46. SONG. 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', Elton John - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDOL7iY8kfo
In the 1939 film 'The Wizard Of Oz', what were 'the little people' called and what colour were they? (Members may remember that the film only became technicolour when Dorothy and her friends - Tin Man (looking for a heart), Scarecrow (looking for a brain) and Lion (looking for courage) arrived in Oz.)
Here is THAT song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnU
47. SONG. 'Lily The Pink', The Scaffold - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7pHDoJrrzA
Name the pink water bird which stands on one leg?
FIINAL SONG. 'Lady In Red', Chris de Burgh - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY4wZg3iByM
Members might like to have a dance?
PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES
If time allows, you could have a go at making 'Friendship Bracelets'. There are several kits available on Amazon.
If this is too complex or time consuming, you could do the same using coloured pasta circles.
Or you could just get the paints out and try some free painting. No rules, just cover the page with a unique design.
FACTOID. The PRIDE FLAG goes back to 1978, when the artist Gilbert Baker, an openly gay man and a drag queen, designed the first rainbow flag. Baker later revealed that he was urged by Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., to create a symbol of pride for the gay community. It remains a powerful sign of inclusivity and a celebration of difference.
ANSWERS
ROUND 1. NATURE
1. Excluding black and white, what are the three Primary Colours?
RED, YELLOW & BLUE (Colours that can be mixed to make other colours)
2. Complete this phrase, "Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning..."
RED SKY AT NIGHT, SHEPHERD'S DELIGHT."
3. What percentage of people have blue eyes in the UK?
48% BLUE, 30% GREEN, 22% BROWN
4. What percentage of people in the UK have red hair?
ABOUT 10%
ED SHEERAN
5. CHLOROPHYLL
6. What is the largest animal on the planet?
BLUE WHALE (98ft, 180 tonnes)
7. Which animals can famously change colour?
CHAMELEON
CULTURE CLUB
8. What are the seven colours in a rainbow?
RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, INDIGO AND VIOLET
ROUND 2. COLOURS IN DAILY LIFE
9. What year was colour TV introduced in the UK?
BBC BROADCAST IN COLOUR FIRST FROM WIMBLEDON 1967
10. What colour is the neutral wire on a modern British domestic plug?
BLUE
11. What is the order of colours in UK traffic lights?
RED, RED AND AMBER, AMBER, GREEN, AMBER, RED
12. What colour describes old brown-and-white photographs?
SEPIA
ALBERT EINSTEIN
13. Which DIY product does an Old English Sheepdog advertise?
DULUX PAINT
14. What colour is the M in the McDonald's fast food chain signage?
YELLOW
RONALD MCDONALD
15. Complete the phrase ...
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE
16. Name any of Cyndi Lauper's other UK (Top 10) hits?
'GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN', 1984
'TIME AFTER TIME', 1984
'I DROVE ALL NIGHT', 1989
ROUND 3. PEOPLE
17. Who famously danced with Fred Astaire in movies from 1933-1949?
GINGER ROGERS
18. Which actor was nominated for Best Actor Oscar for his lead role in the 1973 movie 'Sting'?
ROBERT REDFORD
19. Who starred as Celie in the 1985 movie 'The Color Purple'? (The book was written in 1982, by Alice Walker.)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG
20. Who starred in the 1971 film 'A Clockwork Orange'?
MALCOLM MCDOWELL
21. Who was the lead singer songwriter of 'The Moody Blues'?
JUSTIN HAYWARD
22. Which Barbra Streisand song won an Oscar for 'Best Original Song' in 1977?
'EVERGREEN' (Love theme from 'A Star Is Born')
23. Which DJ was the first to broadcast on Radio 1 in 1967?
TONY BLACKBURN
24. Which orange flower is mentioned in the first verse?
"And YELLOW ROSES scattered all around."
"Saw MARIGOLDS upon my eiderdown."
ROUND 4. GEOGRAPHY
25. Where in the UK would you find the 'Black Mountains'?
SOUTH WALES, NEAR ABERGAVENNY
26. What is the name of the Scottish village made famous by runaway marriages?
GRETNA GREEN
27. What resin sometimes contains fossilised insects?
AMBER
28. Which gemstone grows inside a sea creature?
PEARL
29. Which planet in our solar system is known as 'The Red Planet'?
MARS (4th from the Sun)
("A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play.")
30. Which mythical creature can be found on the Welsh flag?
RED DRAGON
'ST DAVID'S DAY' IS 1ST MARCH
31. Near which town in the UK would you find 'The White Cliffs'?
DOVER
What substance are the cliffs made of?
CHALK
32. What are the four main cloud groups?
CUMULUS, CIRRUS, STRATUS & NIMBUS
ROUND 5. SPORTS
33. What colour is the Bulls Eye on a dart board?
RED
JOCKY WILSON
34. In which cycling race does the leader wear a yellow shirt?
TOUR DE FRANCE
GERAINT THOMAS
35. What was the name of the snooker game broadcast initially in black and white from 1969?
POT BLACK
'Interesting' STEVE DAVIES
36. By what name are the New Zealand rugby league tourists known?
ALL BLACKS
'THE HAKA'
37. Name the Welsh Paralympian who was made a Dame in 2010?
TANNI GREY-THOMPSON
38. What do the five colours of the Olympic rings signify?
UNITY ACROSS THE FIVE CONTINENTS
39. During the 2012 UK Olympics, how many post boxes were painted gold in the towns of Olympian and Paralympian champions?
110
40. Who was the lead singer?
TONY HADLEY
Ask members to point to any items of gold they are wearing...
ROUND 6. LITERATURE
41. In ‘Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs’, written by The Brothers Grimm in 1812, what were the names of the seven dwarfs?
DOC, GRUMPY, HAPPY, SLEEPY, BASHFUL, SNEEZY & DOPEY
42. Which character said, “My Grandma, what big teeth you have!”?
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
43. In 'Goldilocks and The Three Bears' what food substance was eaten?
PORRIDGE
44. What is the name of the bully from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays?
FLASHMAN
45. Who wrote the children's book 'Black Beauty' in 1877?
ANNA SEWELL
46. In the film 'The Wizard Of Oz', what were 'the little people' called and what colour were they?
MUNCHKINS, ORANGE
47. Name the pink water bird which stands on one leg?
FLAMINGO
