ELI5: Why Is Mary Often Wearing Blue?

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is usually shown wearing blue because a long time ago, blue was the most precious, expensive, and special color in the whole world.

Think about how you pick your clothes on a big holiday or your birthday party. You don't wear old, muddy play clothes; you put on your absolute best outfit to show that the day is important. Artists in the old days wanted to do the same thing for Mary in their paintings.

Here is why they chose blue:

• Blue was like liquid gold: Hundreds of years ago, people didn't have chemical bottles of paint like we do today. To make blue, painters had to crush a rare, sparkly blue rock called lapis lazuli. This rock came from faraway mountains and cost more money than real gold, so people only used it for the most important person in a picture.
• A sign of royalty: Just like a king wears a golden crown or a superhero wears a special cape, Mary was given this costly blue color to show she was the "Queen of Heaven." It was a visual badge of honor.
• The color of peace: Blue makes people think of a clear sky on a sunny day or the quiet, calm ocean. Because of this, people felt that blue stood for peace, love, and purity.