I have a yearning to paint the front door on our cottage a lovely green. Green is my favorite color and such a welcoming one. It is relaxing mentally as well as physically, and offers a sense of renewal and harmony. To me, there is something to be said for the wonderful, colored doors of Ireland. They are so beautiful on even the tiniest cottage against the foggy, misty gray skies of winter.
Have you ever wondered why the colored doors in Ireland? I have heard two explanations. You can choose the one to believe.
After the death of Queen Victoria, England ordered the citizens of Ireland (which was still under British rule) to paint all of their doors black in mourning for the queen. The Irish, being ever spiteful and rebellious (a trait I have inherited :), ignored the royal decree and painted their doors every color but black. To this day, the doors remain a colorful reminder of their disobedience.
There is also a story that the women were tired of their husbands going in the wrong doors when they were drunk, going up the wrong stairs, into the wrong bedroom and sleeping with the wrong woman, so they painted the doors different colors to help their husbands distinguish between them. How thoughtful of these women. I'm sure I would not have been so kind and helpful.
A old Irish tradition is to paint your front door red. It is said spirits won't enter a home with a red door. I happily invite all spirits of our ancestors into our cottage, so red would not be the color for me.
Do you love colored doors? Have you painted yours and is there a significance to the color you have painted it? Do tell...I would love to hear from you!
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