Moving to a new home brings excitement but also a lot of work with packing and unpacking. My husband helped me navigate the chaos, and soon we focused on making the house feel welcoming, starting with the porch lights.
I soon noticed that many homes on our street used different colored porch bulbs. Our neighbor had a red light, which made me curious, and I’d heard green lights support veterans, but I wasn’t sure. Then I saw a bright blue light on another porch that really caught my attention. Blue is not a common color for porch lights, so I set out to discover its meaning.
It turns out porch light colors have important meanings beyond decoration. Red lights can stand for heart health awareness or honoring firefighters. Green lights are commonly linked to veterans and military service, especially on days of remembrance like Veterans Day. Purple lights raise awareness about domestic violence during October, while gold lights support childhood cancer awareness in September.
Blue porch lights are most commonly used for autism awareness. Millions are affected by autism, and blue symbolizes this cause. Groups like Autism Speaks promote “Light It Up Blue” each April, with landmarks and homes glowing blue on World Autism Awareness Day to encourage understanding. At the same time, blue lights also honor police officers who keep communities safe. Many display blue lights during National Police Week or all year as a mark of respect.
Switching to colored porch lights is a simple and powerful way to support causes and open up conversations. Blue light can remind neighbors of autism support or police appreciation, bringing people together. Seeing a variety of colored porch lights on a street says a lot about what the community values.
In our neighborhood, blue porch lights made me feel part of something meaningful. So if you notice a colored porch light, remember it’s a symbol. Consider joining in; it’s a small way to show you care. I’ve decided my porch will shine blue tonight as a message of awareness and respect.
