Green light for calm: How our St. Patrick’s Day colors affect our mood

A man dressed as a leprechaun slaps hands with the crowd during the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Boston, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) (Robert F. Bukaty, Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Did you pull out your favorite green outfit for St. Patrick’s Day?

It’s that time of year again, and beyond its association with the holiday, the color green can spark many positive emotions.

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“Studies on the psychology of the color green indicate that it tends to trigger a sense of calmness and relaxation. This is because green is the dominant color in nature,” explained Dr. Susan Albers, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic.

Albers said simply being around the color can bring this sense of calmness and relaxation.

To get the benefits, you can do things like wearing a green shirt or taking in the sights on a nature walk.

Green can also make you feel like you’re going to hit the lottery since it’s associated with luck.

Along with impacting how we feel, Albers said colors can influence what we buy.

For example, there’s a reason why we may gravitate towards green items at the grocery store.

“Since green has such a positive association and is often linked with health, manufacturers and advertisers use green as a way to signal products may be healthier in nature,” Albers said.

Aside from the positive, Albers added green is tied to negative emotions like jealousy as well, considering the phrase “green with envy.”