Causes

Awareness Ribbons: A Guide To Causes By Colors And Months

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Ladies in Pink

Awareness ribbons are used by many organizations and movements to raise awareness over health conditions and other important social causes. Wearing awareness ribbons in different colors as temporary tattoos is a great way to show support toward a cause you believe. Now more than ever, as people have come to identify these as positive social symbols. Plus, they are cost-effective, safe for the skin, and easy for both kids and adults to use. To help you plan your awareness campaigns calendar, we have compiled a list with some of the many causes that can be represented with awareness ribbons.

Black Awareness Ribbons

Black Ribbon

Black ribbons are recognized as a universal symbol of mourning and remembrance. Wear a black ribbon temporary tattoo anytime you want to express your grieving, especially during September as a sign of mourning for the 9/11 attacks. When worn in May, black awareness ribbons show support for the people affected by melanoma, and for the efforts made for curing this disease.

  • Melanoma Awareness (May)
  • 9/11 Remembrance (September)

Dark Blue Ribbon

Dark blue ribbons symbolize hope and support for more than 100 causes. These include addiction, child abuse, colon cancer, hydrocephalus, dysautonomia, transverse myelitis, tuberous sclerosis, among many others. Wear a blue awareness ribbon temporary tattoo anytime you want to show your support and draw attention to these issues.

  • Colon Cancer Awareness (March)
  • Addiction Awareness (April)
  • Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness (April)
  • Hydrocephalus Awareness (September)
  • National Hydrocephalus Awareness (September)

Gray Awareness Ribbons

Grey ribbon color meanings are linked to causes regarding asthma, brain cancer, diabetes, and mental illness.

  • Asthma Awareness (May)
  • Brain Cancer Awareness (May)
  • Diabetes Awareness (November)

Green Awareness Ribbons

 Green Ribbon

The meaning of green awareness ribbons is commonly associated with bipolar disorder and cerebral palsy, but also environmental awareness. Wear a lime green ribbon temporary tattoo anytime you want to honor any of these causes, or to show your support for someone in need.

  • Cerebral Palsy Awareness (March)
  • Kidney Cancer/Renal Cell Carcinoma Awareness (March)
  • Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness (March)
  • Environmental Awareness (May)
  • Organ Transplant & Organ Donation Awareness (August)

Gold Awareness Ribbons

Gold-Ribbon

People wear gold awareness ribbons to support children and adolescents affected by all types of cancers. You can wear a gold ribbon temporary tattoo to raise consciousness or money for cancer research and treatment, and express empathy toward cancer patients.

  • Childhood Cancer Awareness (September)

Lavender Awareness Ribbons

Lavender Ribbon

Typically, people use lavender awareness ribbons to raise awareness and show support for epilepsy patients. Apart from this, a lavender awareness ribbon temporary tattoo can be also worn as a symbol of survival from cancer.

  • Cancer Survivor Awareness (June)
  • Epilepsy Awareness (November)

Light Blue Ribbon

Light Blue Ribbon

The most common use of light blue awareness ribbons is to create consciousness around the Twin-To-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, raise awareness about prostate cancer and treatment. Other causes such as foster care and Addison’s Disease are also represented by this color.

Orange Awareness Ribbons

The meaning of an orange ribbon is associated with ADHD, kidney cancer, mental health, bipolar disorder, leukemia, and multiple sclerosis. Orange awareness ribbons are also used in the fight against animal cruelty, and animal welfare support.

  • Animal Cruelty – Animal Welfare (February)
  • Kidney Cancer Awareness (March)
  • Multiple Sclerosis Awareness (March)
  • Leukemia Awareness (September)
  • ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (October)

Pearl Or White Awareness Ribbons

Do you know someone suffering from lung cancer? Show your support and faith in their recovery by wearing a pearl or white ribbon temporary tattoo. In the past few years, white (and purple) ribbons have become a symbol against domestic violence and similar causes.

  • Lung Cancer Awareness (November)
  • Domestic Violence Month (November)

Pink Awareness Ribbons

Pink Ribbon

The meaning behind pink awareness ribbons is related to breast cancer awareness. With one in eight women being diagnosed with breast cancer, by wearing a pink awareness ribbon temporary tattoo you help support the fight of these women and encourage their recovery.

  • Breast Cancer Awareness (October)

Purple Awareness Ribbons

The meaning of a purple ribbon is most commonly identified with Alzheimer's, Crohn's, lupus, and pancreatic cancer.

  • Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness (May)
  • Cystic Fibrosis Awareness (May)
  • Lupus Awareness ( May)
  • March of Dimes (November)
  • Pancreatic Cancer Awareness (November)
  • Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness (November)

Red Ribbon

Red ribbons are used as a symbol of solidarity with people that suffered from heart stroke, and those living with AIDS.

  • AIDS HIV awareness (July)
  • Heart and Stroke awareness (September)

Teal Awareness Ribbons

Teal Ribbon

The meaning of a teal ribbon is generally linked to causes such as ovarian cancer. It also encourages awareness of the impact of bullying on the lives of kids and adults.

  • Gynecological & Ovarian Cancer (September)
  • Interstitial Cystitis and Bladder Pain Syndrome awareness and support (September)
  • Anti Bullying Awareness (October)

Yellow Awareness Ribbons

Yellow Ribbon

The yellow ribbon is a symbol for carcinoid and neuroendocrine tumors, as well as suicide prevention. Yellow ribbon temporary tattoos are also worn to support rare disease awareness. A pale hue of yellow represents bone cancer.

  • Rare Disease Awareness (February)
  • Bone Cancer/Osteosarcoma (July)
  • Carcinoid & Neuroendocrine Tumor Awareness (November)

Puzzle Awareness Ribbon

puzzle autism Ribbon

With 1 in 54 children in the United States diagnosed with some level of autism, the puzzle awareness ribbon has become a symbol representing the diversity of people and families affected by it.

  • Autism Awareness Month (April)

Are you involved in any other cause that is not yet known to the general public, and you’d like to include in this article? Or maybe even create a designated awareness ribbon for? Let us know in the comments below, and we’ll add it to the list! And if you don’t see something you want here, you can upload your design, we’ll create a meaningful, custom tattoo for you that will help you spread the word regarding your cause. Let’s help spread awareness together!

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man and woman wearing temporary tattoos for adults

3 comments

Denise Young

Denise Young

Teal is also for Scleroderma Awareness June 29th

Elina Brooks

Elina Brooks

Thank you for letting us know that purple awareness ribbons are identified with lupus and are used in May since it’s Lupus Awareness month. My aunt recently won her battle against lupus, so I wanted to give her a pin to commemorate this. I’ll make sure to take note of this information while I look for a store that sells custom awareness ribbons and other cancer survivor gifts. https://www.personalizedcause.com

Maggie

Maggie

What color ribbon is for January?

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