What does a blue front door mean in the South?

The folklore piece refers to the concept of "haint," a Southern variation on the word "haunt" that refers to a ghost or spirit. "Blue represented water, and apparently spirits can't traverse water," said O'Neill. "People would paint the ceilings, the window trim and sometimes the doors (to keep spirits away)."

What does a blue front door symbolize?

A blue front door may symbolize prosperity and abundance, and the darker you go the more a blue door can project a sense of tranquility, peace and elegance.

Why are porches blue in the South?

Gullah folklore explains that ghosts, also referred to as “haints,” were not able to cross water. In order to repel evil spirits from plantations, porch ceilings were painted a soft blue. The color was meant to mimic water in an effort to keep any haints or spirits at bay.

What is haint blue in the South?

Haint blue is a collection of pale shades of blue-green that are traditionally used to paint porch ceilings in the southern United States.

What does a blue front door say about you?

If you have a light blue front door, you're probably a calm and relaxed person. It has visual connections with a crystal clear blue sea, so you may be a bit of beach-bum. You also possibly enjoy bringing the outdoors in. Your home tends to be peaceful and you are a grounded person who's true to yourself.

What does a blue door mean on a house in the south?

Why do Amish paint doors blue?

Exterior Paint

curtains. Much speculation exists as to why some Amish homes have blue doors, with rumors claiming that it means a daughter is available to be wed. Amish representatives unanimously deny this and say instead that it merely relates to tradition and customs.

What front door Colours mean?

A yellow front door suggests the homeowners are friendly and welcoming – the perfect hosts! Blue. Associated with peace and tranquility, a blue front door suggests a relaxed, easy-going family lives behind it. Green. Green generates feelings of safety, suggesting a harmonious home environment.

Why did slaves paint their ceilings blue?

The Gullah people (also known as the Geechee or Gullah Geechee) in Georgia, a subsection of enslaved people who lived on island and costal plantations, were the first to use this color blue as a protection against evil spirits, calling it “haint blue”.

Why do Southerners paint their shutters blue?

The folklore piece refers to the concept of "haint," a Southern variation on the word "haunt" that refers to a ghost or spirit. "Blue represented water, and apparently spirits can't traverse water," said O'Neill. "People would paint the ceilings, the window trim and sometimes the doors (to keep spirits away)."

What color is haint blue paint?

While you're looking at all the gorgeous old homes in Charleston or Savannah, you'll see the beautiful blue/green ceiling colors. There's not one specific haint blue color but it's always a pretty shade of light blue.

What does paint the ceiling mean?

Definitions include: to kill or murder someone, usually meaning the blood that is spilled upon the walls as a result. paint job.

What color keeps evil spirits away?

Since the ancient times, red color is believed to be a lucky color to ward off evil spirits.

What color are porch ceilings in the South?

Well, it's definitely one of many Southern classics. The tradition of painting your porch ceiling this cool, green-tinted shade of blue can be traced back to the enslaved African people of the coastal South, who used the color on windows, shutters, and porches to keep away "haints" or spirits.

What does a blue door mean in Feng Shui?

Like green, blue also represents the wood element, which supports growth and new beginnings. Deeper shades of blue are also connected to the Gen area of the feng shui bagua map. Gen represents knowledge and self-cultivation, so dark blue can be helpful in supporting an intention to deepen your skillfulness.

What does the color blue mean spiritually?

The color blue represents both the sky and the sea and is associated with open spaces, freedom, intuition, imagination, inspiration, and sensitivity. Blue also represents meanings of depth, trust, loyalty, sincerity, wisdom, confidence, stability, faith, and intelligence.

What is the meaning of a teal front door?

Teal front doors symbolizes creativity and can boost emotional healing.

Why are porch ceilings painted light blue?

Across the South, the tradition of painting ceilings blue is passed down from generation to generation. There are many stories and legends as to why, and it's not just about keeping bugs at bay. In the Deep South, a darker blue sometimes called “haint blue” is believed by some to keep away evil spirits.

What is the horrible history of haint blue?

This “haint blue,” first derived from the dye produced on Lowcountry indigo plantations, was originally used by enslaved Africans, and later by the Gullah Geechee, to combat “haints” and “boo hags”—evil spirits who escaped their human forms at night to paralyze, injure, ride (the way a person might ride a horse), or ...

Why are porch ceilings painted blue in Key West?

As time went by another legend came to be as home owners continued to paint their Key West ceilings blue. The idea was (and for some still is) that blue porch ceilings act as a natural bug repellent because the porch looks like the sky and fools the bugs who obviously won't build their nests in the sky.

What is the color of slavery?

Indigo: The Indelible Color That Ruled The World Catherine McKinley traveled through nine West African countries a decade ago to track the history of indigo, the blue dye that was made very valuable by the African slave trade.

Does the color blue keep wasps away?

Well, it's called "haint blue" and may repel more than just insects, thus the name. The South Carolina Low Country, blue paint has been used on porch ceilings ands ome say this color blue extends daylight at dusk and helps keep bees, wasps and other insects away.

What is a haint in the South?

Haint is an old southern word for a specific type of ghost or evil spirit from the Carolina coast, but found in tales from various regions of the south. Belief in haints probably originated with the Gulla Geechee people, descendants of African slaves in the Carolina low country and barrier islands.

What color should a south-facing door be?

Use These Colors to Add Fire to the Southern Door

South is the only direction that has the feng shui element of fire, hence the best colour for a south-facing front door is red. Other fire element colours that can be considered are. You could also try Green, Brown and Wood tones.

What does a turquoise front door mean?

Try painting your front door a bright blue or turquoise, which is linked to calmness and trust. “If you were knocking on a blue front door and you have time to ponder a second, you might come to the conclusion that the homeowners were more likely to be trustworthy,” Augustin says.

What is the most welcoming front door colour?

The splash of a bright door will look cheerful and inviting and make your house stand out against the others. Best front door colours: any bright colour - yellow, turquoise or lime green.