Did you ever wonder about the colors in rainbows?

By David McClelland

Did you ever wonder about the colors in rainbows?

As a child, I always marveled at rainbows and thought they were wonderful. I still do.
My children and grandchildren were equally fascinated and appreciative of rainbows.

I knew that rainbows occurred only when it was raining. Later, I learned that the rain drops act as tiny prisms that each split (bend) sunlight into many colors. Can you name those colors in order from top to bottom? They are always red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. What color is indigo, you ask? Like violet, it is a shade of purple and gets its name from the indigo plant, native to India, used for dyeing cloth.

We once saw a rainbow on 32 Mile Road that appeared to touching the ground on both sides of the road and making its bow over the road. It was the most impressive rainbow that we have ever seen.

Any time the sun shines through drops of water, a rainbow is formed. The next time you are hand watering your lawn on a sunny day, stand with your back to the sun and you will see a rainbow formed in the spray. When you are standing near a waterfall, you may be able to see a rainbow. It is always more fun if you have a child with you with whom you can share the rainbow. They will always marvel at this phenomenon.

Song writers were also taken with rainbows and by the color indigo. There is the song, "Mood Indigo" by Duke Ellington and Barny Gigard from 1930. We have "Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939. "The Indigo Girls", an American folk rock song by duo Amy Ray and Saliers in 1988. Most recently, there was the "Turbulent Indigo" album by Joni Mitchell in 1994.

The Bible tells us that rainbows are a sign from God that there will never be another great flood covering the earth. I am pleased to share with you what I have learned about rainbows in a lifetime.