Have you ever wondered why so many homes around the Lowcountry paint their porch ceilings “haint blue”? What is the history behind this unique color?

The term haint (pronounced “haynt”) stems from Gullah Geechee culture and is a variation of the word haunt, meaning ghost or supernatural being. The color was believed to trap evil spirits that escaped from humans at night by tricking them into thinking they had encountered water or the sky. Spirits were unable to cross water, and the sky was believed to pull them farther away from their victims.

The porch ceiling below is Rainwashed by Sherwin Williams. Although shades of “haint blue” can vary, look up as you walk around and notice all the different hues of “haint blue”.