Weird Wonderful Decor History: Fylfots

I'm on a historical kick so let's talk about fylfots.

Fylfots have a long history that became clouded and dark in the mid 1900's. Originally a multicultural symbol of the sun and good luck reaching all the way from ancient Japan to Europe, fylfots have been taken over by one of the greatest horrors of recent human history.

Why can I say that with such surety? Because "fylfot" is the European name for a swastika.

For a bit of historical perspective before I explain the significance of fylfots in historical Southern decor, a brief lineage of the fylfot:

In its early European form, a fylfot looks exactly like a swastika with shorter arms. Unlike the Asian counterpart which is a mirror image of the infamous Nazi swastika, European fylfots have no specified direction. They were a part of early heraldry that, according to one 1500's manuscript, served only to fill a space.

Asian swastikas are not called fylfots. Typically, the Asian version sits diagonally on one of the points rather than upright. The word swastika itself is derived from a sanskrit word meaning "lucky" or "auspicious". This meaning began to be ascribed to fylfots in Europe when trade between the East and West grew more common.

In the second half of the 19th century, stylized fylfots began to show up in Pennsylvania Dutch towns in backcountry Virginia. At this point, the fylfot appears as a swirling, rounded cross shape. Fylfots found in Pennsylvania Dutch country are ascribed with two meanings. The first is as a simple blessing and good luck symbol. In this instance, a fylfot is on par with a horseshoe or a clover. No more importance is given to it that for its attractiveness as an ornament and the sunny promise of luck.

Reproduction Pennsylvania Dutch style fylfots from this site.

The second meaning found only in Virginia and spreading a bit through the southern parts of the East Coast is that a fylfot is a hex that will ward off evil spirits and acts. When used in this way, fylfots are often hidden symbols. Antique items from the rural south dating from the mid 1800s to roughly 1930 often have fylfots carved or drawn into the back or hidden on interior spaces.

After WWII, fylfots dropped from popularity along with swastikas. These symbols are often not discussed because of the negative connotations. You can still occassionally find visible fylfots on historic rural homes in the south though many have been disguised or destroyed outright.

Weird Wonderful Decor History: Haint Blue

From Front Porch Appeal.

I have a "mild" obsession with any interesting histories/ quirky superstitions associated with common decorating traditions. I also LOVE to tell people about those weird little stories! So, with that in mind, today's weird decorating history lesson is Haint Blue.

If you have ever driven around in the rural south and looked at porch ceilings and window shutters (don't be ashamed, it's totally normal) you may have noticed that a lot of them are painted a light shade of blue. That is Haint Blue.

The reason most people will give for Haint Blue porch ceilings is that the color discourages bugs and nesting birds. I've never quite understood how blue keeps bugs away. The idea behind the bird thing is that they perceive the ceiling as the sky and will not nest as it feels too open. As far as I can tell, neither of these things are true. They're basically a less stupid version of using hot water to make ice cubes because it freezes faster. In other words, an old wives' tale.

The more interesting (to me) history of Haint Blue has roots in traditional southern conjure. Conjure (also sometimes called hoodoo, rootwork, or folk magic) is a spiritual practice similar to Santeria or Vodoun. It is a mix of African, Native American, and traditional European magical practices with the interesting addition of Biblical figures and various Saints. Conjure practitioners often known as hoodoo doctors or root doctors were often nomadic. They earned their stays in various communities by dispensing folk remedies, including the knowledge of Haint Blue.

In conjure tradition, maladies and misfortune may be the work of various forms of devils (among other things).  A Haint, the colloquial version of "haunt" and meaning a ghost or other malicious paranormal being, may very well have been proclaimed to be the cause of whatever ailed a person. The conjure practitioner would perform a cleansing to rid the home or person of the haint. But what stops the haint from just coming back when the root doctor is gone?

Haints fear water. Haint Blue paint is the color of deep, undisturbed water. Haints will not enter water for any reason and are not known for their ability to use logic. When Haint Blue is painted on shutters and on porch ceilings, the haint is unwilling to pass through and risk going into water. See where this is going? Haint Blue protects homes from haints.

So next time you see a porch or shutter painted blue, you know you are not likely to encounter a ghost in that house. Unless that house wasn't cleansed first because now the haint is stuck inside. Good luck with that.

From Curious Expeditions