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If you ever notice a blue porch light shining in front of someone’s home, it could be for decorative purposes, but it could also signify their support for an important public initiative. Find out what blue porch lights mean, the meanings of 6 other popular porch light colors, and whether or not you should change your porch light bulb to a new shade.
If a homeowner puts a blue light on their porch, they may be paying tribute to Project Blue Light, an initiative to honor police officers who have served in law enforcement or who have died in the line of duty. The blue lights on the porch can also represent the Light It Up Blue movement, which raises autism awareness and shows support for autistic people.
Red porch lights can signify heart health awareness or Valentine’s Day. February is not only the month of Valentine’s Day; it’s also America’s Heart Month. Some people change their porch lights to red that month to spread heart health awareness or to decorate for Valentine’s Day on February 14th (or both).
- In 2022, the American Heart Association led a project in San Diego, CA, to light up various buildings in red. Their goal was to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease among young women and women of color.[5]
Orange porch lights were lit in Indiana in support of two local teenagers. Orange lights are a common color for porch lights and usually have no special meaning. However, in Delphi, Indiana in 2017, many residents and local organizations placed orange porch lights in memory of teenage girls Liberty German and Abigail Williams.[6]
- The girls went hiking on February 13 and disappeared a day before their bodies were discovered. Orange lights were put up in their memory until the person who killed them was caught.
- Orange lights can also be associated with Halloween (the main colors of Halloween are orange and black). Homeowners also install them to create a warm glow in front of their homes.
Yellow porch lights can show support for injured or ill veterans. Yellow porch lights are not associated with any particular movement, but some homeowners may put them up to show support for veterans who have become ill or injured in combat.[7]
However, in most cases, amber lights are simply installed to provide a warm, inviting porch light. Yellow lights do not attract insects like white lights, so some owners will choose them for this purpose as well.Green porch lights show support for veterans who have returned from service. A green light on the porch can be a sign that the homeowner supports the Greenlight a Vet campaign. Greenlight a Vet encourages people to change at least one visible light on their property (such as a porch light) to a green light bulb to show their support for veterans reintegrating into society after serving.[8]
Purple porch lights symbolize domestic violence awareness. If you see purple porch lights in October, they’re probably supporting Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an initiative designed to raise awareness of domestic violence in the U.S., support victims, and create change. A purple porch light during any other time of year can still symbolize this movement, or the homeowner may have installed it for personal wishes.[9]
- The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) chose purple as the official color of their movement because of its association with the women’s suffrage movement of the early 20th century, as well as its association with royalty.[10]
Pink porch lights can represent breast cancer awareness month. Pink porch lights are rare, but if you see one (especially in October), the homeowner is raising awareness about the prevalence of breast cancer. Maybe they or someone they know has survived or died of the disease, or maybe they just support the movement. Another, simpler reason could be that their favorite color is pink.
- If you’re interested in switching to the pink light bulb for breast cancer, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the best time to make the switch.[11]
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