If you have been to the Lowcountry of South Carolina (Charleston) or coastal Georgia (Savannah), you will see many homes with porch ceilings, doors, shutters, and even houses painted blue. It’s not just any color; it’s called Haint Blue, and there is a reason for that. Many who visit these areas attribute the color to “coastal living,” but that’s not entirely true.
The color dates to the Gullah-Geechee people in the area, and it was applied to homes to ward off evil spirits. It’s believed that evil spirits cannot cross water and are deceived by the color, mistaking it for either water or the sky, thereby deterring them from entering a home.
Even Sherwin-Williams sells the color and has a summary listed on its website.
Written By John G. Clark Jr.
