Reason #1. It is believed that a blue ceiling reminds the porch sitter of a beautiful day. It is calming. It extends daylight. And it is just plain attractive. All very valid reasons. There is just something calming about sitting on a porch swing or on a rocking chair watching the world go by. Porch sitting is a very Southern sport. This is about the only sport that I participate in on a regular basis.
Reason #2. The reason that I've always heard is that a blue ceiling is resistant to spiders, general bugs, bees and wasps. You know, annoying insects. The reasoning goes that the bugs are fooled into thinking that the ceiling is actually sky so they won't build nests in the corners. Could be true if you believe that bugs see in color. Or it could be that years and years ago the paint had lye in it which is naturally bug resistant. Since, I don't particularly like spiders, general bugs, wasps and bees (which JR is highly allergic to) I'd paint my porch blue as an added precaution.
Reason #3. The color blue keeps ghosts and evil spirits from getting into the house. There is some debate on whether this practice started in South Carolina or in the bayous of southern Louisiana. I doubt it really matters since it has spread across the whole South. Since, I'm the same one that keeps fountains and wind chimes near both doors of any house we live in for this very reason this theory works best for me.
It seems that everyone is getting into the act of painting porch ceilings blue as the tradition has spread from southern states to northern states.
Do you have a porch ceiling? Is it painted blue? What reason works best for you?
Love,
M
