Tescarana Color Theory

The Tescarana place substantial importance on color symbolism. The home of a rich dyemaking tradition, the Tescarana like to look colorful, but also use colors to send various social signals. At the same time, colors may simply be employed for aesthetic value in contradiction to their usual cultural associations, so long as the color is not the dominant theme of the garment or flag or whichever surface is painted or dyed.

The colors

Purple is associated with social power and finery. A purple beret-type hat is used as a shorthand for chieftainship among the Tescarana. Depictions of the goddess Uni tend to heavily feature purple.
Blue is associated with the sea, with calm, peace, and quiet, and also laziness. Blues and light blues are popular in standard dress. Depictions of Tinia feature blue and white heavily.
Red is associated with passion, battle, fire, love, but also the earth. Depictions of Cel tend to be red-dominated, and the color is commonly used to highlight an outfit. The colors, purple, blue, and red, are considered together to be the colors of godliness.
Green represents nature, medicine, and children. It also represents innovation and creativity in the Tescarana imagination. Children are often dressed in greens.
Brown, like red, represents the earth, but also represents beasts and simplicity, but also poison. It is relatively uncommon as a dominant color in Tescarana dress.
Black represents cunning and daring, but also malice and treachery. Black flags are commonly flown by pirates.
White, especially clean white represents purity, and the sky. It is also common in depictions of Tinia.
Yellow represents happiness, craftsmanship, and skill. However, it also represents envy.

Flags

Most Tescarana clans have multiple flags and banners, typically with yellow or white dominated ones with unique patterns of purple, red, or orange representing the clan. However, clans will fly alternate red or black flags as war flags, or as warnings, or alternatively blue flags when they mean to negotiate. Green flags are used to signify a lack of allegiance, and non-clan groupings tend to fly them.