What does a blue painted porch mean?

The blue color was meant to ward off “haints” or evil spirits who might want to harm the house or the family inside. Tricking Insects. Many people argue that painting your porch ceiling blue actually keeps insects away.

Why are porches painted blue?

According to the Gullah/Geechee, a blue porch ceiling brought good luck to the home and helped to ward away evil spirits as these lost souls are unable to cross water. A haint blue porch ceiling resembles water and prevents haints from harming the people in the house.

Why do Southerners paint their porches blue?

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 the meaning of haint blue paint?

The shade and the term “haint blue” have become mythic and ubiquitous. The Gullah Geechee legend says that evil spirits do not like water and painting spaces to look like water will keep them away. The color is said to have been originally based on the indigo grown in the region in the eighteenth century.

Why did slaves paint their ceilings blue?

The color was said to trick haints into believing that they've stumbled into water (which they cannot cross) or sky (which will lead them farther from the victims they seek).

The Story of Haint Blue | What About This?

What is the meaning of blue shutters 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)."

Does blue paint keep spiders away?

Lore claims the insects and birds see the blue as the sky and don't come beneath it. According to a history of blue paint on Sherwin-Williams.com, today's blue paint is probably not a true deterrent for insects and birds but it once was – back when blue paint was made with lye.

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 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 colors keep wasps away?

However, there are some colors that will make you all but invisible to these insects. As mentioned before, those colors include pale or light shades. For best results, wear white. This lack of color will typically make bees and wasps leave you alone.

Does painting porch ceiling blue keep birds away?

Summer days seem to last longer when afternoons are spent on the porch, and a pale blue ceiling overhead helps extend the daylight into dusk. Blue ceilings are also said to deter birds from nesting there and insects from buzzing around. But don't toss your bug spray just yet.

What color is haint blue in Sherwin Williams?

Sherwin-Williams Waterscape (SW 6470) is a dynamic, perfectly soft-but-bright blue infused with hints of green. Haint blue in general can be tricky because it will depend on several factors, like the natural light on your porch, the other colors present, and the amount of greenery surrounding your house.

What does painting your ceiling red mean?

The expression is American slang meaning to go on a reckless debauch, to be wildly extravagant. Originally, the metaphor applied to bonfires painting the sky or scenery red.

Should the ceiling be painted same color as walls?

Paint your ceiling the same color as your walls. This will draw the eye up, which creates the illusion of a larger room and higher ceilings. Bonus if you're able to install some trim and crown molding, as I've found this can also make the ceilings look higher.

Should ceilings always be white?

Ceilings do not always have to be painted white. While white is certainly the most common color for a ceiling, you can experiment with different colors to really make a room flow nicely. Contrary to popular belief, a ceiling is not just an extension of the walls.

Do blue ceilings keep bugs away?

It was used as an insect repellent.

The theory was that insects would mistake the blue ceiling for the sky and set up housekeeping elsewhere. The blue paint actually did thwart insects, but not by outsmarting them.

What does blue awning mean?

Once upon a time in the deep South, many people painted their porch ceilings a specific shade of Haint Blue, a soft blue-green, to ward off evil spirits called “haints.” It's especially common in the historic homes around Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina.

Is there a haint blue stain?

The thing about Southern traditions is that they are passed down from generation to generation and this one has as many variations as the color itself, as there is no “official” haint blue color.

What color do bugs hate?

Bugs are naturally attracted to bright colors like white, yellow or orange. Colors like green and blue won't register as vividly when seen in the UV spectrum, deterring bugs away from these colored objects.

Does blue keep away wasps?

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.

Are spiders attracted to blue?

Other bugs tend to gravitate toward bright colors, like yellow, white, or orange. So while green attracts spiders, it repels their food sources. The color that spiders tend to hate is light blue.

What does a blue door mean?

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 do black people paint their houses 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”.

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 does a house painted green mean?

This hue represents healing, growth and new beginnings. The relaxing nature of green makes it a good choice for living rooms and bedrooms, and it works well in large expanses.