Life is like a box of crayons.

I love crayons. Passionately. Being left-handed, crayons are the only drawing implement that doesn't get all over my hand and smudge the paper.


People have been drawing with colored wax for thousands of years, at least since the time of the Ancient Egyptians. But they didn't take on their current forms until the late 19th century. 


And I'm a crayon snob too. Crayola is the best, bar none. They were introduced by Binney & Smith in 1903. The original colors were (surprise!): red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, and black.




By 1950, there were 30 colors. Now there are 133. A number after the color name indicates the year in which it was retired.


1903 Colors.

• Red.
• Orange. 
• Yellow. 
• Green. 
• Blue. 
• Violet (Purple).
• Brown. 
• Black. 

1949 Additions.

• Gray. 
• Green-Yellow. 
• Green-Blue. 1990.
• Blue-Violet. 
• Blue-Green.
• Bittersweet.
• Gold.
• Magenta.
• Lemon Yellow. 1990.
• Maize. 1990.
• Mahogany.
• Maroon.
• Melon.
• Midnight Blue. Called Prussian Blue until 1958. Renamed because Prussia hadn't been a country since 1932.
• Orange-Yellow. 1990.
• Orange-Red. 1990.
• Olive Green.
• Orchid.
• Periwinkle.
• Peach. Called Flesh until 1962. Renamed because that's really racist.
• Pine Green.
• Thistle. 2000.
• Tan.
• Red-Violet.
• Red-Orange.
• Salmon.
• Cornflower.
• Carnation Pink.
• Brick Red.
• Burnt Sienna.
• Apricot.
• Yellow-Green.
• White.
• Turquoise Blue.
• Violet-Blue. 1990.
• Violet-Red.
• Silver.
• Spring Green.
• Sea Green.
• Yellow-Orange.

1958 Additions

• Sepia. 
• Mulberry. 2003.
• Sky Blue.
• Lavender.
• Forest Green.
• Blue-Gray. 1990.
• Aquamarine.
• Cadet Blue.
• Burnt Orange.
• Chestnut. Called Indian Red until 1999. Renamed because even though Crayola swore it was named for a dye that comes from India, not for "Red Indians." I'm going to call BS on that explanation. The 1950s were not the most culturally sensitive decade on record.
• Copper.
• Raw Umber. 1990.
• Plum.
• Raw Sienna.
• Navy Blue.

1972 Additions.

• Outrageous Orange. Called Ultra Orange until 1990.
• Atomic Tangerine. Called Ultra Yellow until 1990.
• Blizzard Blue. Called Ultra Blue until 1990. Retired 2003.
• Hot Magenta. 
• Laser Lemon. Called Chartreuse until 1990.
• Shocking Pink. Called Ultra Pink until 1990.
• Screamin' Green. Called Ultra Green until 1990.
• Wild Watermelon. Called Ultra Red until 1990.

1990 Additions.

• Sunglow.
• Vivid Tangerine.
• Unmellow Yellow.
• Wild Strawberry.
• Cerulean.
• Dandelion.
• Royal Purple.
• Razzle Dazzle Rose.
• Purple Pizzazz.
• Teal Blue. 2003.
• Neon Carrot.
• Radical Red. (Is Crayola pushing a political agenda, Comrades?)
• Magic Mint. 2003.
• Jungle Green.
• Fuchsia.
• Electric Lime.

1993 Additions.

• Purple Mountain's Majesty.
• Pacific Blue.
• Timberwolf.
• Tickle Me Pink.
• Razzmatazz.
• Robin's Egg Blue.
• Denim.
• Cerise.
• Wisteria.
• Tropical Rain Forest.
• Tumbleweed.
• Shamrock.
• Mauvelous.
• Macaroni and Cheese.
• Granny Smith Apple.
• Asparagus.

1998 Additions.

• Beaver.
• Banana Mania.
• Antique Brass.
• Almond.
• Desert Sand.
• Fuzzy Wuzzy.
• Fern.
• Cotton Candy.
• Caribbean Green.
• Canary.
• Blush. Called Cranberry until 2000.
• Piggy Pink.
• Pink Flamingo. 
• Pink Sherbert. Called Brink Pink until 2000.
• Purple Heart.
• Outer Space.
• Blue Bell.
• Manatee.
• Eggplant.
• Scarlet. Called Torch Red until 2000.
• Sunset Orange.
• Shadow.
• Mountain Meadow.
• Vivid Violet.

2000 Addition

• Indigo. (Poor Indigo. It's an official color of the rainbow, and it took 97 years for it to get its own crayon.)

2003 Additions.

• Wild Blue Yonder.
• Mango Tango.
• Jazzberry Jam.
• Inchworm.