Have you ever driven by a house and seen a different colored bulb in their porch light? The list goes on: green, red, orange, and blue. Here is a list of what the colors mean, to the best of my knowledge and the internet knowledge, and the internet never lies! You will also see different color light bulbs to celebrate holidays, but these are the specific meanings for each color. (Orange – Halloween, Green – St Patty’s Day, Red/Green – Christmas to name a few)
Red Porch Light
February is American Heart Month, and people are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health. The American Heart Association uses red as the color to raise awareness for their work, encouraging people to wear that color in support. And the first Friday in February is National Wear Red Day, drawing even more attention to heart health. So going red with your porch light is a noticeable way for your house to wear red, too.
Anyone can have heart issues, but there’s a special focus on women, and the Go Red for Women initiative seeks to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
Green Porch Light
It started in 2013 with a campaign led by Walmart called the “Greenlight a Vet Campaign.” This campaign worked to guarantee jobs for honorably discharged U.S. veterans after they returned home from service. In addition, Walmart also encouraged members of their communities to change their porch lights to green to show appreciation for veterans across the nation.
The campaign described the color green as renewal and hope. With these positive ideas in mind, Walmart hoped to start a new conversation about U.S. veterans as valued members of every community. You’ll still see these green lights around November 11, which is Veterans Day.
Purple Porch Light
If you ever see a purple porch light, pay attention. It’s there to bring awareness to incidents of domestic violence. The situation can go undetected for far too long, especially if victims feel they cannot leave due to a dangerous response from their attackers.
The Purple Light Nights movement not only aims to increase awareness of domestic violence but also shows those who suffer that there are safe spaces and people who stand with them. The movement’s motto is “shine a light and save a life.” Sometimes, victims will use a purple porch light to stand in solidarity and show it can happen to anyone.
Gold Porch Light
Awareness for childhood cancer: Thinking about children with such an illness can be heartbreaking, but it still needs to be talked about. Those who go through such suffering in their lifetimes often feel there isn’t enough funding and awareness for childhood cancer. These people have also adopted the golden porch lights, like the golden cancer ribbon, to signify their awareness of childhood cancer and their actions to help support research and funding.
Orange Porch Light
Back in 2017, a heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in Delphi, Indiana. The town was shaken by the brutal murder of two teenage girls. In response to this heinous act and as a beacon of hope for justice, the “Light up Delphi” initiative was born. People from Delphi and all corners of the United States began swapping their regular porch lights for orange bulbs. It wasn’t just a symbolic gesture of hope for solving the crime. Local retailers even stepped up, selling orange lights with the sales proceeds directly benefiting the grieving families of the victims. Thus, every orange-lit porch became a solemn testament to the community’s solidarity and an unwavering demand for justice. So, the next time an orange porch light catches your eye, remember the deeper narratives it represents, from festive celebration to a communal cry for justice.
Blue Porch Light
- Blue lights on porches, historically, have been a way for homeowners to honor and support law enforcement. The movement traces its roots back to 1989, when Dolly Craig chose to light up her window with a blue bulb, remembering her son-in-law, an officer tragically lost in the line of duty. Her heartfelt gesture resonated with a local C.O.P.S chapter, and before long, this simple act of remembrance birthed Project Blue Light. Fast forward a bit, and in Ohio, residents rallied behind the ‘Light Ohio Blue’ campaign, illuminating their homes in blue not just in remembrance of officers lost but as a continuous nod of gratitude to law enforcement professionals.
- Every April, particularly on World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd), houses and global landmarks light up in blue. Why? Rally behind the ‘Light-It-Up Blue’ campaign initiated by Autism Speaks aimed at heightening autism awareness. The choice of blue for this cause relates to the affinity many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have with the sky. Some find solace in staring at it; parents often discuss the sky’s hue with their kids.
- In September, blue porch lights again take on another meaningful symbol. This month marks Alopecia Areata Awareness, an autoimmune disorder causing hair loss, impacting roughly 1.7 million Americans.
Pink Porch Light
Pink porch lights are often used to support breast cancer awareness. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, pink lights serve as a reminder of the importance of mammograms and support for those affected by breast cancer.