Back To School Icebreakers For Primary School
Can you believe how quickly the summer has flown by? Suddenly the time has arrived to start preparing for the back-to-school season which means buying new school uniforms, bags, pencil cases and everything else that goes along with it.
The return to school is an exciting time however, especially for teachers as they get to know their new class and what better way to do this than with some fun icebreaker activities. This is a great way to ease a class into a new school year and help you and them get to know each other better!
There are a lot of icebreaker activities out there, but we’ve put together a list of what we think are the best back-to-school ideas for teachers to give your students an unforgettable start to the school year.
Classmate Bingo
We all love a game of bingo and this is a take on the classic game that allows your students to learn their classmate's names and other details about them. Create a selection of bingo cards with identifiers written in boxes such as ‘has a pet cat’, ‘went on holiday this summer’ or ‘has more than one sibling’.
Each student will receive a different card and is then given 10 minutes to walk around the classroom to try and find someone who fits an identifier on their card, writing their name in that box when they’ve done so. The first student to fill their sheet shouts bingo and is crowned the winner!
Time Capsule
Creating a time capsule with your students is the perfect way to get to know them and for them to learn facts about each other too. You could let your students produce drawings of themselves and write down a list of their favourite things, as well as adding a memento or item that represents them to the capsule.
On the last day of the school year you can dig the time capsule back out and see how much your students have changed and grown!
Colour Powder Games
This is a bit of a messier option, but definitely the most fun! Kids will love this idea and it will allow them to let off a bit of steam outside during all of the back-to-school excitement. Using our colour powder, you can organise a range of games for your students to play such as a colour war, a colour toss or a colour obstacle course.
This is certain to bring a level of enthusiasm to your students and is a great way for them to bond with each other, whilst providing a memorable start to the school year. Unsure how much colour powder would be required to create an activity like this? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our custom calculator.
Draw Your Selfie
Kids love taking selfies these days so why not stay on trend and have them draw their own ‘selfie’ of themselves doing one of their favourite hobbies or interests. Once they’ve finished, collect their drawings and then hand them back out, giving each student a random drawing. It’s then up to them to return the correct selfie to the owner and find out their name and about their hobbies.
Get the most out of this activity by using the drawings as a display board in the classroom, allowing the whole class to enjoy everyone’s works of art!
Beachball Toss
We’re not ready to say goodbye to summer yet and if you’re feeling the same this next activity will help keep the summer vibes going in the classroom. Using a beachball, write a question or two on each colour and toss the ball around the classroom. Whoever catches it has to answer the question under their left thumb.
Questions could be along the lines of ‘If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?’ or ‘If you could only eat one food for a whole month, what would it be?’. The more imaginative the questions are, the better they are to find out more about your students!
Hopefully we’ve helped to provide some more back-to-school ideas to help you kick off the school year in an exciting and fun way. We’re sure your students will enjoy any of the above activities and that they will definitely help to break the ice and bring everyone together!
Colour Powder Extinguisher Gender Reveal
Now we all love a balloon pop reveal, but if you're wanting to take your gender reveal to the next level, Ministry of Colours are here to add an air of excitement to the day!
First Communication
When we were first contacted by former Love Island contestant, Biggs Chris, we knew that it wasn't going to be a low-key event... Biggs had the idea of using day fireworks for the special day, but after a quick conversation, it was decided that the event would go ahead with Ministry of Colours gender reveal products instead. Biggs and Summer weren't going to be finding out the gender, so the order was placed by Biggs' mother.
Highlighting the brilliance of colour fountains
Unveiling the magic
Guests eagerly gathered around the beautiful backdrop of balloons, Biggs and Summer, brimming with anticipation, were about to reveal the gender of their little one with a blast of vibrant colour. Our fountains were situated strategically behind them to create an enchanting spectacle. As the countdown reached one, a cascade of blue hues engulfed the gardens and and everyone was cheering and celebrating the wonderful news. Biggs & Summer are expecting a baby boy!
Sharing moments of joy
Not only were the gender reveal colour fountains visually stunning, but they also provided an interactive element that allowed guests to actively participate in the revelation. Laughter and cheers filled the air as friends and family, armed with their cameras, captured precious moments of pure joy. The Ministry of Colours gender reveal colour fountains played an essential role in creating a memorable experience for everyone present.
A beautiful day
Biggs and Summer's party was nothing short of magical. The vibrant burst of colour, joyous atmosphere, and contagious excitement made this event truly unforgettable. If you're planning a gender reveal party, make sure to check out our colour fountains to add that extra touch of enchantment, making your celebration a cherished memory for years to come!
💙Watch the reveal here💙
Old Fart At A Colour Run - Our MD's Colour Run Experience
When it was first suggested (strongly) that I take part in a fun run to see what all the fuss is about, my first thought was that the only thing fun and run have in common is that they rhyme.
However, under serious pressure from my colleagues, I signed up. And what better cause than our local children’s hospice Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice here in Huddersfield?
Fortunately, there were no runner numbers and I was reminded of the time I begrudgingly signed up for a half marathon, late one evening in the pub a few years ago. When my number arrived it had “Under Duress” printed on it instead of “Nigel” which meant no-one could cheer my name as I ran past them along the route!
I had not run for a while but male pride demanded I did the full 5k and not the shorter route. Besides, my waistline was expanding so the chance to burn a few calories was an added incentive. I dug out my running shoes and embarked upon a few training runs and despite some sore muscles to begin with, it actually felt quite good to be back out there.
Fast forward to the day itself and I made sure I was in tip-top form by having an early-ish night and only four pints instead of my usual five on the Friday night before the run.
The forecast was promising and the morning drive over the Pennines from where I live in Sheffield was glorious in the sunshine. The team were coming along to cheer me on/laugh at me, and we had agreed to get there early to soak up some of the atmosphere. When we arrived, the sun was shining and the music was already playing from the stage.
A few families were getting into the spirit early, having bought some bags of brightly coloured powder to throw at each other and the air was full of colour, laughter and shrieks of delight from excited children, of all ages.
Next to the registration tent, they were selling bags of powder and colourful accessories. Feeling quite in the mood now, I bought some powder to throw, along with a pink headband and multi-coloured tutu to be as colourful as possible. The resulting effect was debatable but at least it gave everyone a laugh.
As the start time drew nearer, the crowds swelled. Over one thousand runners plus their friends and families gathered near the stage for the warm up. Not that we needed it really as the sun was now high in the sky and I was sweating already! The enthusiastic aerobics instructor bounced around on the stage with way too much energy and if I went at it with as much gusto as she did, I would have been shattered before the run even started.
As we all moved towards the start line, I surveyed the competition, and realised there wasn’t any, as it was all about having fun!. Parents, even grandparents, and toddlers were going to walk, jog or run the route. Most of them were already brightly clad and covered in powder and there was no sign of a clock or stopwatch anywhere. I was really beginning to experience the fun element of the day now and the run was merely a side show.
The start gun fired, and we set off through a cloud of colour from the fountains being enthusiastically sprayed by the course marshalls. Greenhead Park, already resplendent in the strong May sunshine, was now awash with hoards of colourful people of all ages moving around the course. After not very long, I could see clouds of pink up ahead as we arrived at the first colour station and volunteers gleefully pelted us with bright powder. Cue more shrieks of delight from the younger runners.
Despite the unexpected inclines on the route, I was quite enjoying myself. In what seemed like no time at all, I was back at the first colour station and on lap two of three, but this time already covered in six colours. Before I knew it, the run was over and there was not one patch of white left on my t-shirt. Definitely the most enjoyable 5k I have ever run!
After a well-earned (and needed!) bottle of water, I met up with the gang and we surveyed the scene as happy, colourful faces chatted excitedly about the run and waited for the grand finale, the colour fight. The party music had been playing from the start and there was now a good crowd of people dancing in front of the stage. The countdown began, more colour fountains went off and it was now time for the runners to throw powder at each other.
What a great way to spend a Saturday and the best bit is the event had raised well over £30,000 when I last checked. This really did put the fun into fundraising and I would recommend it to anyone thinking of organising one or just taking part. I might have started out contemplating the run through the left lens of my glasses but by the end I was definitely viewing things through the right one!
Nigel Halliday, Managing Director, Ministry of Colours
End of Year Colour Run Activities for Primary School Children
School’s nearly out for Summer! How quickly has that school year gone? The end of a school year is always a good time for celebration and also a chance to reflect on everything that’s happened this year. Your students will be excited for the Summer break, full of energy and ready to celebrate in style.
There’s almost too many options out there these days when it comes to party ideas, so we thought we’d compile a list of activities that are sure to engage your students and ensure they have a memorable end to their school year.
So let’s get started…
End of Year Awards Ceremony
Everyone loves receiving prizes, especially your little ones and an end of year awards ceremony is a lovely little way to uniquely celebrate each and every student for their positive contributions this year. Simply create, print and laminate various award certificates that celebrate something that your students individually excel in or maybe even highlights a stand out moment when the student went above and beyond during the school year.
When it comes to handing out the awards, why not rearrange the classroom a little too and create a makeshift red carpet for the kids to walk on? A quick and easy way to create this would be through some red crafting paper and taping it to the ground. Little details like that will make it even more memorable for each and every student.
Summer Bucket List
I remember when I was little, the six week holidays seemed to last forever! Playing outside for days on end without a care in the world, so many fantastic memories were made. So why not get your students thinking ahead to their Summer activities and all the new memories they can make? Ask them to create a bucket list of everything they want to achieve during the summer break and then their new teacher can check in with them all on their first day back, which will be a nice icebreaker.
Cake, Cake and More Cake
What is a party without cake? You could dip into the school budget to provide students with lots of baked goods yumminess, but why not get the kids involved? Ask them all to bake a cake or sweet treat at home and to then bring them into school on the last day for everyone to enjoy. You can even ask them all what their favourite part about baking was too!
Outdoor Colour Powder Games
Now it’s time to get a little messy, but kids love messy, right? Setting up a range of games and activities outside that involve our colour powder is a sure fire way to get your students burning off all that excited energy and making a bunch of amazing memories too.
There’s plenty of party games to play that are improved even further with the colourful twist that our colour powder brings to them. Here’s a few ideas that your students are sure to love. To be honest, I’m rather jealous that I can’t join in!
Colour Toss
First of all, you’ll need a big bunch of socks to create your hacky sacks! See how to make your own here. Once that’s complete, line your students up in two lines facing each other. Instruct them to throw the hacky sack at one another and then take a step back after each successful throw. The first person to drop the sack in each partnership is out and the thrower is the winner!
Four Corners
Place four laundry baskets in a square (fairly far apart from one another to give room for the kids to run between them) and divide everyone into four teams. Place a different colour sock in each basket, (you’ll need four different colours for this). On go, the first person in line races to the other baskets to pick up a sock of their teams’ colour, then the next person in line goes when they return and so on. The goal is to get three socks of your teams’ colour into your basket first.
Capture The Colour
For this you’ll need balls from the P.E cupboard, so make sure they aren’t needed elsewhere that day. Teachers need to hide plenty of balls and colour socks around the school field (be inventive) and place a basket at each team’s base. The goal of the game is to capture as many balls in your team’s basket within the allotted time. However the colour powder socks can be used to throw at opposing teams and once someone has been hit, they have to drop everything and return to their base.
On their return, their team commander (teacher) may have a small task for them to complete, like five jumping jacks, count to ten or sing a nursery rhyme, once they’ve completed that, they can return to the game and try to gather those balls for their team.
Balloon Pop
Fill a bunch of different balloons with a little bit of colour powder and air, ensuring that the different team colours are evenly represented throughout all the balloons, For example, 10 balloons with red colour powder in them, 10 with yellow and so forth. Mix the balloons up and then teams take it in turns to have one member pick up a balloon and hold it above their head. The teacher then pops the balloon and if the colour is their teams, they score 3 points! However if it’s not, the team who’s colour it is, scores 1 point.
Shirt Signing
This is probably aimed more at those students in year 6 and heading to secondary school, but a fantastic and memorable tradition for pupils is to sign each other’s school shirts, providing each student with a lovely memento for the rest of their lives. Encourage this by providing marker pens, just make sure you forewarn parents ahead of time so there’s no surprises.
Big Quiz of the Year
Last but not least, hosting a quiz with questions centred around what the students learned this year and any big events that occurred is a great way to get them thinking and working together as a team. You could even provide the winning team with a prize, maybe some bags of our colour powder would go down a treat? Or maybe a few pairs of our cool sunglasses?
Hopefully we’ve helped to bring some more ideas to the table for your end of school year party and I'm sure no matter what you have planned, your students will have a wonderful time!
If you’re looking to use some of our colour powder within your party games, be sure to use our custom calculator. It’s super easy to use, simply enter how many students will be involved and it’ll let you know our suggestion for how many bags you’ll need. Although, remember that you’ll have to take into account various colours when it comes to the games suggested.
If you’d like to talk to one of our team members regarding your school party, we’d be happy to help and provide you with any guidance we can. We also have a handy colour powder information sheet that contains helpful advice on the properties of the colour powder itself and we’ve answered a wide range of FAQ’s, so be sure to check that out too.
Have a great party guys!
School Colour Runs - How To Organise
Colour runs are a super fun way to raise money for any number of causes such as charities, hospices, retirement homes or your local community. They emphasise fun over competition and as such, attract a larger number of participants who just want to have a fun day taking part in a bit of exercise whilst getting covered in colour powder! Sounds fun doesn’t it?
We’ve written a guide previously on how to organise a colour run in general which features lots of super helpful tips and advice, but today we’re concentrating on organising a colour run specifically for children at school and how the event could differ from a more ‘traditional’ colour run.
Pre-Colour Run
Choose A Fundraising Cause
Before looking to plan your school colour run, you need to choose what cause will be benefiting from your fundraising efforts. Whether that be a national or local charity, a deserving hospice or even just your local community in general, identify the fundraising goal early so that materials such as leaflets, newsletters, emails etc can be made to inform everyone on what it is that they’re raising money for.
Come Up With Further Fundraising Ideas
The colour run itself is of course the main fundraising drive, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be the only one. Depending on how big you want the event to be, you could invite parents or people from the local community to donate items for a raffle to raise further funds for your chosen cause. Or you could encourage students or volunteers to bake items for a bake sale too, a rather yummy way to raise more money!
Create Promotional Materials
The more you shout about your event, the likelihood of raising even more money increases (which is fantastic!). So include it in any regular materials that are sent to parents and if possible create materials specifically to raise awareness of the colour run too. From email campaigns to leaflets, whichever works best for you. It’s a great opportunity to ask for help from any parents too who may want to get involved.
Advise Parents on What Children Should Wear
Understandably one of the concerns for most parents will be ‘will the colour powder stain my child’s clothes?’ Our advice is to dress for the mess, however, our colour powders will wash out of most materials when used correctly. Plus we even have plain white t-shirts that are perfect for the day if parents don’t want to risk the chance of staining their kid’s clothes. One further piece of advice would be to advise the students to wear glasses of some kind, just in case. We’ve got parents covered there too with sunglasses available in various crazy colours that their kids are sure to love!
Plan Our The Course
When it comes to planning the colour run course for little ones, it’s a great idea to get even more creative to make it as fun as possible! So alongside multiple colour powder stations where teachers or volunteers will cover students in colour powder as the students run past, why not introduce additional playful elements too (budget permitting) such as;
Inflatables - Hiring an inflatable section for the day would certainly bring something different to the course and it’s sure to be a big hit with the kids. Or maybe even just an inflatable arch for the finish line would be pretty cool!
Slime - Alongside covering them in colour powder, squirting slime at the colour run participants will make things even messier! Which kids love! The slime will help the colour powder to stick even more too!
Bubbles - Having teachers, volunteers or even a dedicated bubble machine blowing bubbles towards the course just adds an extra element of fun to the run.
Foam - A foam pit would be another fun addition to your colour run and you could even use our colour powder to make the foam different colours too!
Tyres/inflatable rings/hurdles - Why not add another hurdle (sorry for the pun) for the little ones to face by adding obstacles such as tyres, inflatable rings or even small hurdles for them to jump over.
It’s also important to ensure the course is age-appropriate in terms of its length. Make sure all participants are able to complete the course and then you can add on an extra lap for those who want to run further.
On The Day Of The Colour Run
Brief Teachers & Volunteers On Their Roles
To ensure the event goes as smoothly as possible, make sure teachers and volunteers know exactly what they’re doing on the day. Equip them with the right gear to cover participants in colour powder, slime or foam (whatever you choose) and instruct them on how to safely do it. We recommend putting the colour powder into buckets and then using your hands, plastic cups or bowls (get raiding the school kitchen) to scoop the powder out to throw at runners. Also make sure they’re on the lookout for any safety issues and have a reporting procedure in place for such events.
Strategically Place Colour Powder Throwing Stations
You’ll want to space these out throughout the course to ensure that participants get covered in colour powder throughout the run. Our colour fountains are ideal for the starting line with their blast of colour and 20m reach, they're sure to get everyone covered in colour and ready to run! If you do introduce other elements to the colour run such as slime and foam, then placing throwing stations directly after these will ensure that the powder sticks even more!
You’ll also want to create a special moment at the finish line as this is where parents will be getting most of their photos! So make sure you have enough colour powder and volunteers to create a colour spectacle as runners cross the finish line. Our individual 100g bags are the ideal size for each runner to throw some powder in the air to create a colour cloud at the finish line! They’re perfect for a little colour fight afterwards too!
Post Colour Run
Colour Powder Cleaning Instructions
As mentioned earlier, parents will be understandably concerned about how to clean it off their child’s clothes and potentially the safety of the powder too. We recommend you print out our downloadable safety guide PDF and provide it to parents on the day. It’s also a good idea to share the link with all parents prior to the event too to set their mind at ease.
Let Everyone Know How Much Was Raised
Finally when the dust (or colour powder) has settled on the event and the donations have been counted up, make sure you share with everyone how much was raised! People want to know and it’s always a great feeling knowing that you’ve helped a good cause.
Hopefully our guide has helped you to plan your school colour run and you’re on course (sorry, another pun) to have a fun filled day to remember. Because after all, that’s what’s most important!
If you need any help in choosing the right products for your colour run, our team of experts will be happy to help, just use our contact form or call us on 0330 321 3996.
Leeds Holi Festival 2023
I was thinking there'd still be snow in Leeds and so layered up with three pairs of socks, leggings under jeans, the works! I had an overwhelming feeling that people weren't going to turn up because of the weather! Well, in true English Weather fashion, it was a stark difference from the day before...
After a quick pit stop at McDonald's for coffee and hash browns (my fave), we were on to the M62 and en route to Leeds Holi Festival!
The stall was situated in a small through-room at the top of a set of stairs, leading into a big area full of old arcade machines and a yellow submarine! We had to remove the doors from the room to make sure our customers could reach us! Boxes upon boxes of colour powder,sunglasses, floral leis, whistles, headbands and drawstring bags filled the small room.
When the gates opened at 12:30, it didn't take long for a sea of excited faces to flood the venue. Everyone who bought a ticket received 2 complimentary bags of colour powder, but that didn't stop them from buying plenty more from our stall! We were so busy for the full day, right up until closing, people were going crazy for our vibrant colour powders!
The sound of music and laughter filled the air, and colour clouds were drifting through the sky. Also, the smells... Oh my goodness the gorgeous aroma of Indian street food was just irresistible. When we finally got a break, Nigel very kindly offered to get a selection of goodies to share. We had chicken curry and a soft bread type wrap filled with spiced paneer and vegetable. It was the most delicious food ever and I've eaten at a LOT of Indian restaurants! Definitely check out Punjabi Heaven in Leeds if you get the chance, out of this world food!
Everyone was so happy, it felt like winter was really over and spring was finally here!
Throughout the event, I was constantly inspired by the sense of community and togetherness that permeated the air. People were dancing and laughing, throwing colour powder at one another and enjoying the music. It was a truly magical experience and I felt so grateful to be a part of it.
Leeds Holi Festival was a really inclusive day where everyone was made to feel welcome. Holi Festival, also known as the Festival of Colours, is a joyous celebration of peace, love, happiness, equality and the triumph of good over evil through live music, food and bright colours.
Another thing that I loved about the day was spending time with my colleagues out of the usual work setting. It was a great opportunity to celebrate our successes and discuss how we are going to make 2023 our best year yet! I'm so grateful for such an amazing team, you guys are the best <3
Abi & Chloe at Leeds Holi
When we had the opportunity, Chloe and I were keen to get into the mix! As you can see, we fully immersed ourselves and got covered in colours. The event was so busy, at times it was difficult to navigate through the crowds, but it was such a great experience and we all really enjoyed the day! The highlight of the day for me, was seeing Eshaan (the organiser of Leeds Holi Festival), letting off our colour fountains! They offer such an amazing visual impact, it really gets the party going!
King Charles' Coronation
We’re super excited for the King’s Coronation on Saturday 6th May, Chloe has her Union Jack mug out in preparation, Nigel’s been raving about the street party he’ll be attending, whilst I’ve had my eye on our new Union Jack sunglasses for a while now.
That’s right, we’ve released a brand new Coronation product range that’ll help you to celebrate King Charles’ Coronation with all the pomp and pageantry it deserves. Alongside launching the new range, I’ve been looking further into the King’s upcoming coronation, what’s planned for the day and how different the country was the last time we hosted such an event.
What Life Was Like During The Last Coronation
It’s been so long since Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation back in 1953 (70 years!) and the country and the world as a whole has changed a lot in that time. But just how different was it back then? I’ve gathered a few interesting facts that highlight just how times have changed!
Everyone Huddled Around The TV
The Queen’s Coronation was one of the first big events to be broadcast live on television and is widely heralded as the event that ushered in television becoming more mainstream. Many people decided to rent or buy television sets for the Coronation and the number of licence holders doubled from approximately 1.5 million to 3 million. Compare that to the 25 million approximate licence holders in the UK today and you can see how television has become increasingly integral to our day to day lives.
Food Rationing Was Still in Place
At the start of the Second World War, Britain was importing a large amount of its food (we actually import a smaller percentage today) and one of the strategies of the Germans was to attack supply ships to try and starve Britain into submission. As a result of these shortages, the British Government brought in rationing for various products to make sure everyone had enough of everything to get by.
By 1953, there was still rationing in place on a number of items such as sugar, meat and coal, whilst just before the Queen’s coronation, the rationing of sweets and chocolate ended. I’m not going to lie, I wouldn’t have coped without my choccie!
Fourth Coronation in Just Over 30 Years
We were so used to Queen Elizabeth II being our Queen that we forget that it hasn’t always been so commonplace to have the same Monarch for so long. There will have been many people at her coronation that were witnessing their fourth that century! Elizabeth’s in 1953 followed on from King Edward VII’s in 1902, King George V’s in 1911 and King George VI’s in 1937.
Homosexuality Was Illegal
Now this is awful and almost impossible to believe but unfortunately, homosexuality was indeed illegal back in 1953 and would be so in England until 1967. Compare that with today where same-sex marriage is commonplace and there are numerous fantastic Pride events celebrated worldwide! We’re a proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and believe that love comes in every colour, so the world is a better place today in this regard for sure!
There Were No Motorways
The first motorway, The Preston bypass which is now part of the M6 was built in 1958. So during the Queen’s coronation, everyone was getting around on A and B roads. Can you imagine how long it would have taken to go on holiday to the seaside back then? It’s long enough now!
What’s Planned For King Charles’ Coronation?
Saturday 6th May
- King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach as part of the King’s Procession to Westminster Abbey in time for the service to start at 11am.
- During the ceremony the monarch will pledge to be the ‘defender of the faith’ but the coronation oath will be updated to reflect the Britain of today.
- The Archbishop will then anoint, bless and consecrate Charles and he’ll be given the orb and sceptre before St Edward’s Crown is placed upon his head, officially making him King Charles III.
- King Charles III and Queen Camilla will then return to the palace in the same Gold State Coach that his Mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II travelled in during her Coronation. Hopefully he won’t need a hot water bottle like her Majesty did back in 1953!
- Then to conclude the day’s events, various members of the Royal Family will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in front of the vast crowds that will no doubt gather below them.
Sunday 7th May
- A special Coronation Concert will take place at Windsor Castle and will be broadcast live by the BBC.
- The concert will see a world class orchestra play interpretations of musical favourites whilst the stars that made them perform. It’s all very hush hush in regards to who will be performing though, I wonder who will be there!
- Neighbours and communities are encouraged to get together and take part in the Coronation Big Lunch. Street parties are highly encouraged, but so is a nice cuppa tea with your next door neighbour, whatever takes your fancy.
Monday 8th May
- Everyone is encouraged to take part in ‘The Big Help Out’ and try out some volunteering for themselves. If you’re looking to help some good causes, check out their website and download their app to see what is being organised near you.
- The extra bank holiday this year is much appreciated, your Majesty. Let’s hope we get some lovely sunshine to enjoy too!
Looking To Organise Your Own King’s Coronation Event?
If you’re looking to take part in the celebrations and the Coronation Big Lunch, our Coronation range has a number of items to help you celebrate in style.
Why not incorporate some colour powder into your celebrations? Our safe to use powder is available in Regal Red and Royal Blue (amongst other colours) so it’s the perfect addition to your celebration. Just maybe wait until everyone is finished eating their food!
We also have a number of Union Jack themed products such as flags, whistles and sunglasses which will help everyone to get in the mood.
You know what, I’ve decided that I’m definitely going to grab myself some of those sunglasses, they’re so cool! Enjoy the celebrations guys!
What Are The Colours of Holi?
Holi, otherwise known as ‘the festival of colours’ is an ancient Hindu tradition that celebrates a variety of things such as the eternal and divine love of Radha Krishna, the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring.
During the festival, everyone participates in the ‘throwing of colours’ which involves exactly that. As well as throwing the colours, festival goers rub the colour powder onto each others faces - an act of love and friendship.
Traditionally only the colour red was utilised during Holi celebrations, however as time has passed, more and more colours have been added to the rainbow of colours used. The colour choices aren’t just because they’re pretty though, they all have a meaning associated with them too. So we thought we’d provide a brief description of why each colour is important and what they represent.
Red
The colour red is associated with a number of traditions in India. Brides and married women wear red and it’s also the colour of weddings and life in general. Not just for Hindus, but for Muslims, Buddhists and Jains too.
When a married woman passes away, her body is traditionally covered in a red cloth, however when a woman becomes a widow, she symbolically never wears red again and at her death is instead covered in white (to signify purity and renunciation).
Many people in India also mark their forehead with a red dot known as a tilak. This is to remind them that the body is a temple and that everyone and everything on the planet is sacred. It also signifies which Hindu religious group the person is part of and is said to bring the wearer good luck and ensure their health and safety.
Blue
In Hinduism there are three main deities: Shiva The Destroyer, Brahma The Creator and Vishnu The Preserver. Vishnu spends eternity sleeping until they are called upon when a crisis occurs. They then appear as one of their ten avatars and proceed to save the world. Vishnu’s blue skin is one of the major inspirations for this choice of colour.
Green
Green represents the celebration of nature and happiness and is also the colour associated with one of Vishnu’s avatars, Rama, who spent the majority of their life in exile in the forest. In certain areas of central India, married women often wear green bangles and saris in Rama’s honour. However a widow would never wear green.
Yellow
The sacred colour of India, yellow is the colour of sunshine and happiness. Many of the gods such as Vishnu and Krishna are often depicted wearing yellow and the colour itself is actually believed to have healing powers. This is probably due to its association with turmeric, which has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries within India.
Pink
This is an innocent and cheerful colour that symbolises youth and playfulness. It’s a more recent addition to Holi celebrations and can often be seen in the clouds of colour powder that smother the streets of India during the celebration. It’s also not associated with either gender within India, so is a colour of choice for everyone.
Orange
Orange is associated with strength and is a sacred colour in many Eastern religions, Hinduism included. Hindu monks wear orange robes and bright saffron turbans. Orange also represents the sacral chakra, which is the energy centre of one’s self. Whilst the usage of the colour orange in the flag of India represents the strength and courage of the Indian people.
Purple
Purple is a combination of the passion of red and the calmness of blue and is often associated with royalty, power and wealth within India. It’s also the colour of the crown chakra, which is the seventh chakra that is located at the top of the head. It’s believed that with a balanced crown chakra, you’ll find increased synergy between your physical self and the spiritual realm. It’s often seen as a bridge to the cosmos itself.
As you can see, there’s a variety of colours used during the festival and each and every one has a meaning or two associated with it. Something to think about the next time you celebrate Holi.
Here at Ministry of Colours, we stock each and every one of these colours in our colour powder range, which are perfect for Holi celebrations and colour powder parties in general. Our clever calculator will help you to determine how much powder you’ll need based on the number of people attending too, so you’ll be celebrating in no time.
What is Holi? The Ultimate Guide
Holi, otherwise known as ‘the festival of colours’ is a vibrant Hindu festival that welcomes in the season of spring. But how exactly did this festival originate and how is it celebrated?
We’ve taken a look into this wonderful celebration to provide you with everything you need to know about this colourful festival.
What is Holi?
The ‘festival of colours’ is an ancient Hindu tradition and one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals, not just in India, but throughout the world. The festival celebrates the blossoming of love, happiness, new life and the arrival of spring, but traditionally the festival celebrates two unique legends in particular.
The Legend of Radha Krishna and Their Eternal Love
The legend behind this particular aspect of the celebration is that in his youth, Krishna was worried that the fair-skinned Radha wouldn’t like him due to his dark skin colour. His mother intervened and asked him to approach Radha and ask her to colour his face in any colour that she wished. She accepted his offer and they became a couple.
Ever since, the playful colouring of one’s face has been celebrated during Holi, as has their divine and eternal love for one another.
King Hiranyakashipu & The Triumph of Good Over Evil
King Hiranyakashipu had become virtually indestructible due to a boon granted to him and in turn, demanded that everyone worship only him. However his son Prahlada, who was devoted to Vishn, disagreed.
The King proceeded to subject his son to various cruel punishments, which didn’t break his resolve. Eventually he asked his evil sister Holika for help, who proceeded to trick Prahlada into sitting on a pyr. However, due to her evil intentions and Prahlada’s devotion to Vishnu, her fire resistant cloak protected him instead, once the pyre was set alight.
This event is still celebrated to this day as Holika Dahan the night before Holi begins, whilst the triumph of good over evil is one of the main celebrations during Holi.
When is Holi?
The celebration of Holi varies each and every year, due to the fact that Holi is celebrated on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month. In 2023, Holi will be celebrated on Wednesday 8th March.
How is Holi Celebrated?
Once the ritual of Holika Dahan is completed, the celebration of Holi or Rangwali Holi as it’s also known, begins. The celebration of Holi is a joyous one, featuring parties, music, special food and the traditional throwing of colours.
A mix of dry colour powder, water guns and water balloons are used to cover their targets with colour. Everyone in open areas such as streets and parks is fair game, which results in an explosion of colour in the streets of India.
Traditionally only the colour red was used during the festival, but today a wide array of colours are used and each one has a meaning associated with it. For example, red is associated with the tilak, blue is connected with Vishnu, whilst orange represents the strength of the Indian people.
After playing with the colours, everyone heads home to clean up, before heading out to visit relatives and friends to exchange sweets, such as Gujiya. This traditional sweet of Holi consists of a dumpling filled with khoya (a dairy product made exclusively with milk) and dried fruits.
This and various street foods such as Samosa Chaat, Kadhi Kachori and Pani Puri are consumed too. Whilst the customary drink of the festival is Thandai, a traditional Indian cold drink made from milk, nuts, seeds and spices.
How Do I Celebrate Holi in the UK?
Holi has become a really popular celebration within the UK, with Hindus looking to celebrate the festival of colours in line with their traditions and religious beliefs.
Here at Ministry of Colours we love to join in on the fun and we’re sponsoring both Rangeela 2023, London’s biggest Holi celebration and Leeds Holi Festival at Beaver Works this year. Whilst our colour powder will also be provided to event attendees at London ki Holi, which we’re really excited about.
But if you can’t make it to a large organised event, you could always throw a colour powder party for you and your friends. Our colour powders are the perfect choice if you’re looking to celebrate Holi in a smaller setting.
Made from natural ingredients, our colour powders are non toxic, ensuring that you can party safely.
If you’re thinking of planning a colour powder party and you need help choosing the right products, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. A member of our team will be more than happy to help you find the right type of powder for your event.
Alternatively, take a look at our FAQs to find out more or use our calculator to see how much powder you might need for your event.
Colour powder, Holi powder & Gulal: What's the difference?
They look the same, feel the same and even throw the same, but what’s the deal with all of these powders? It’s less complicated than you may think… they’re actually the same product! Colour powder comes with many names that have evolved over time as the popularity of colour powder has risen. Let’s go back to the beginning...
Gulal is the original name given to the coloured powder used during Hindu celebrations and religious rituals as well as during Holi, the Festival of Colours. Our colour powder builds upon tradition by still being manufactured in India whilst following modern processes to ensure the safety of the colour powder. Fancy a behind the scenes look at our powders being created? Have a nosey here.
Traditionally, Gulal was made from natural colourings from spring flowers, berries, spices and other plants, adopting the name Herbal Gulal, as the ingredients tended to be very beneficial for the skin.
As Holi festivals gained popularity and colour powder was in higher demand, Gulal adopted the name Holi powder, as people associated Gulal with Holi. Higher demand also meant naturally sourced colourings were replaced with synthetic colourings, which were easier to manufacture in bulk. Our colour powder is made from non-toxic food grade dyes, making Ministry of Colours one of the safest colour powder suppliers in the UK.
Colour powder is a term that is used when not referring to Hindu festivals or celebrations, such as colour runs, colour parties, gender reveals and pet photoshoots.
If you’d like to celebrate a Hindu festival with some Gulal or Holi powder, or if you’d like to use colour powder in your next event, don’t hesitate to get in touch for the best quality supplies.