Feminine ... dainty ... flirty ... for the cause

Have you ever wondered if the colour pink was always associated with femininity? Created from a combination of red and white, the colour signifies daintiness and, of course, everything girl.

Over the decades, however, the colour pink has taken on very serious intent, and has moved into the realm of health.

Is the colour simply a media blitz or does it symbolise what it was intended to do, that is, to create a way to provide both financial and personal support to those who are affected by breast cancer? How did the pink ribbon come to symbolise breast cancer awareness?

The ribbon is a symbol used to connote awareness and support. It had its origins in the yellow ribbon used in the early to mid-1900s in a United States military marching song. Then, the song Tie a Yellow Ribbon inspired Penney Laingen, the wife of one of the hostages, held in Iran from 1979-1981, to use the yellow ribbon to show support for her husband and other hostages and to remind others of their plight. Her family and friends joined her in her efforts and, today, Americans continue to use this symbol as a powerful reminder of the men and women who are serving our country abroad.

Synonymous with the breast cancer effort and support, the pink ribbon is not only worn during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but throughout the year. For anyone who has gone through breast cancer treatments, pink has its purpose. Many feel that wearing pink may trigger someone's memory to get a mammogram, to raise awareness of the disease, show that it is an important cause to many men and women, and to raise money for patient support and for research for its cure.

Pink facts

The first breast cancer ribbon chosen was peach, but it was later changed for marketing reasons when cosmetic company Estee Lauder wanted to support the cause, and felt pink communicated better. (www.yahoo.com)

In the early 20th century, pink was associated with masculinity because it was a shade of red. Blue was actually associated with girls as it was considered dainty because of the association with the Virgin Mary, faithfulness and constancy. The switch wasn't made until in the 1940s. (www.colourlovers.com)

Crayon giant Crayola made their first pink crayon in 1949 called Pink Carnation. (www.colourlovers.com)

When roses first began to be cultivated, varieties of pink roses were among the most popular. Historically, pink roses, like all roses, still have an underlying meaning of love. However, various shades carry their own meaning. "Dark pink roses are symbolic of gratitude and appreciation, and are a traditional way to send a message of thanks. Light pink roses are associated with gentleness and admiration, and can also be used as an expression of sympathy," according to http://www.proflowers.com.