Haint blue

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A haint blue porch ceiling in the United States

Haint blue is a collection of pale shades of blue-green that are traditionally used to paint porch ceilings in the Southern United States.[1][2] Hex #D1EAEB is a popular shade of haint blue.

The tradition originated with the

plantations in the American South, but the tradition survived well after the decline in indigo dye cultivation.[5]

Etymology

The word haint is an alternative spelling of haunt, which was historically used in African-American vernacular to refer to a ghost or, in the

Hoodoo belief, a witch-like creature seeking to chase victims to their death by exhaustion.[6][7]

Cultural significance

Gullah culture

Originally, haint blue was thought by the Gullah to ward haints, or ghosts, away from the home. The tactic was intended either to mimic the appearance of the sky, tricking the ghost into passing through, or to mimic the appearance of water, which ghosts traditionally could not cross. The Gullah would paint not only the porch, but also doors, window frames, and shutters.[8] Blue glass bottles were also hung in trees to trap haints and boo hags.[9][10]

As Gullah culture forcibly mingled with white southern culture, the custom became more widely practiced.[2]

Additionally, not all Gullah identify with the belief that haint blue can ward off evil spirits, but the historical significance of indigo crops still applies. Many

US Revolutionary War and loss of exports to the British market, and indigo nearly completely disappeared after the advent of synthetic blue dye in the mid-19th century. However, producing and using indigo dye in art and artisanal crafts has been reclaimed in a Gullah movement with the intent to strengthen the Gullah community's connection to their ancestors' African culture, such as through educational workshops hosted by the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.[10]

Bug deterrent

The use of haint blue has lost some of its superstitious significance, but modern proponents also cite the color as a spider and wasp-deterrent.[1][11] However, the color has not actually been scientifically shown to stave off bugs.[12] The associated repellent effect may stem from the use of milk paint containing lye, which does act as an insect repellent.[2]

Aesthetics

The blue color is appreciated from an aesthetic standpoint for mimicking the color of the sky.[1][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Why do so many Southern porches have blue ceilings?". today.com. June 27, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Kelleher, Katy (January 16, 2018). "Haint Blue, the Ghost-Tricking Color of Southern Homes and Gullah Folktales". The Awl. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  3. ^ Lebos, Jessica (August 16, 2017). "A more inclusive and nuanced history". Connect Savannah. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  4. ISBN 978-0-933075-04-7 – via Google Books
    .
  5. ISBN 978-0-87844-168-6 – via Google Books
    .
  6. ^ Harper, Douglas. "haunt". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  7. ISBN 978-0-252-09446-0
    – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Cribb, Betsy. "These are the Prettiest Shades of Haint Blue for Your Porch". Southern Living. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  9. ^ "Lowcountry Life: The legend of the bottle tree". Explore Beaufort SC. July 12, 2019. Archived from the original on March 14, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Parks, Shoshi (January 14, 2020). "What the Color 'Haint Blue' Means to the Descendants of Enslaved Africans". Atlas Obscura.
  11. ^ a b Koncius, Jura (June 13, 2017). "It's a Southern thing: Why so many porch ceilings are blue". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  12. ^ Norris, Michele (August 14, 2006). "Why So Blue? Color Graces Many a Porch Ceiling". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
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