Have you ever wondered why Historic homes of the Antebellum south all have some hint of Soft blue or green? If you have walked the streets of South Carolina, and surrounding southern states, you have undoubtedly come across the beautifully painted blue porch ceilings dotting the roadways. This tradition has some unknown roots which are sure to inspire awe. Before you take on your next porch painting project, think about using 'Haint' Blue instead. Dive in with me and explore it's mysterious roots.
The Gullah Geechee people were descendants of the African Slaves that worked the Rice plantations in South Carolina and Georgia. Many of their ancestors came from Angola which is were the Gullah name is derived. They developed a creole language, also known as the Gullah language, and a culture which was rich in African influences that made them distinctive among African Americans. Haints are spirits trapped between the world of the dead,. It is believed by the Gullah Geechee people that haints are angry ghosts that cannot cross water. Instead of building moats around every home, they decided to dig a pit and mix up a lye rich watery blue paint also not limited to light green hues, like mint and sea foam green as well. They would paint all of the openings to their homes around the windows frames, the doors, the porch ceilings you name it. So this watery paint was believed to of made the spirits want to flee without harming the home or it's owners. It is unknown whether or not the well known New England Colonial Blue, is in anyway related to this same use, but it is interesting that all of the early pioneers chose various shades of blue for one way or another. Even in the common day, the use of this color is helpful in warding off a different kind of plaguing "demon", the Carpenter Bee. It is said that the use of the blue on the porch ceiling will trick the bee into thinking that the porch is uncovered and therefore, not a suitable home to start nesting and biting into. It is interesting how things seemingly rooted in superstition end up staying with us for one reason or another. Now for anyone who has traveled to the true south, you will see these colors play out on a variety of historical homes across the southern borders. What's funny to me is half of these people flying the rebel flag and pretending to be a good ol' boy are living in homes with paint jobs representing a culture they don't necessarily stand for, hypocrisy at it's finest. It is high time that we start paying attention to, and preserving our past. The historical roots of these paint jobs, have been passed down to us from our African relatives who found their homes here in the Antebellum South, not so long ago. I'm for the flying of the confederate flag and for honoring the confederate statues, because I am of the belief that we are better off if our mistakes are known, so that we are never doomed to repeat them. "You cannot judge the past with the eyes of the future" (Amanda Maltz), meaning, you cannot judge the actions of those who stepped on this earth before you. Like you, we are all human, we are all open to making mistakes and making false judgements, but we are also all capable of growth and progression. Those who were forced to be born of the tough generations before us, thought that what they believed was right, just as we do now. Take it all with a grain of salt, let's never forget history or repeat it's misgivings. Let's choose not be as ignorant anymore. #hikedontwalk #historicarchaeology #haintblue #haintgreen #historic #knowledgeiskey #southcarolina #Georgia #Tennessee #northcarolina #Alabama #civilwar #africanhistory #gullahgeechee #mikethehikingguide Thanks for reading!! Mike
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