The Unity of Germanic Purple, a Daily Dose of Peace

A Daily Dose of Peace. Each week, I focus on Love, Joy, and Peace in the world languages. January’s third week focuses on Germanic languages in Europe.

Purple is Not Red or Blue But a Symbol of Unity

The name of purple
a unity of blue and red

In English
crimson, dark purple, violet
and lilac

In Dansk or Danish
“lilla” and “violet”, “blåbrun”

In Deutsch or German
“bleifarben”, “hellbraun”, “karmesinrot”
“purpur” and “rosa”

In Français or French
violet, magenta, pourpré
violacé and violettes

In Italiano, or Italian
grigio, grigio piombo, lilla
oscuro”, “plumbeo”, “viola scuro”

Everyone sees symbols differently
we can still come together to find beauty

Purple, not red or blue a symbol of unity poetry with Kimberly Burnham Photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash

Danish Peace Cow Sayings

“Bedre er een Ko med Ro end syv med Uro”
Better one cow in peace than seven in trouble

Let us appreciate what we have to share.

“Bedre lidt med Ro og Rette, end meget med Uro og Trætte”
Better a little in peace and with right, than much with anxiety and strife

Let us create peace and right for all.

“Freden föder, Krigen öder; Freden nærer, Krigen tærer”
Peace feeds, war wastes; peace breeds, war consumes

Let us multiple abundance for everyone.

“Fred skal man dyrt kjöbe”
Peace must be bought even at a high price

Let us work to lower the price of peace for our children.

“Hvor der er Ave er Tugt; hvor der er Fred er Frugt”
Where there is discipline there is virtue; where there is peace there is plenty

Let us develop virtue and peace for our friends and family and beyond.

“Man har ei længer Fred end Naboen vil”
You cannot have peace longer than your neighbour chooses

Let us see to our neighbors’ peace.

Danish cow poetry with Kimberly Burnham Photo by Édouard Bossé on Unsplash

Vrede, Peace And Anger

In Danish “fred” is the name
for peace
or “vrede” in Dutch or Afrikaans
but with the word ‘vrede”
the Danes rage
are angry, wrathful and
the word “vrede” conveys resentment
no wonder Lycodoxos said
“language is the best way men have
found to misunderstand each other”

Originally Published in Peace Poetry Dictionary, The Meaning of Peace and Calm in 5000 Languages on January 20, 2021.