If You See A Yellow Ribbon Tied To A Tree, This Is What It Means

Remember the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn? Chances are, especially if you heard it on the radio when it was released in 1973, you only remember that title lyric. That's okay — we have a lot of other stuff to remember. But what does it mean when you see a yellow ribbon tied around a tree in somebody's yard, lining a city street, or in front of a place of business? There are a few different causes that use yellow as their awareness ribbon color, including endometriosis and the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program aimed at teens, but most often — and historically —  in the United States, the yellow ribbon has been associated with hometown support for military personnel deployed overseas.

Pop culture references to yellow ribbons have existed for a long time, too. In 1949, The Andrews Sisters and John Wayne released a song and film, respectively, titled "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," though they were completely unrelated in a narrative sense. Thematically, however, they both feature a woman wearing a ribbon while her love is off to war. That said, yellow ribbons didn't appear wrapped around trees until decades later.

Surprisingly, Tony Orlando and Dawn's 1973 smash-hit song doesn't feature a veteran. Instead, it features a man returning home after serving a three-year prison sentence, but the sentiment remains: Everyone wants to see their loved ones come home safely. But just when did the yellow ribbon practice start? Despite anecdotes and folklore that the practice dates back to the Civil War, the Library of Congress has found no evidence of anyone participating in such displays before the Iran Hostage Crisis — which ended in 1981 — when the wife of one of the captives started the trend after being inspired by the song. That original yellow ribbon is now held at the Library of Congress American Folklore Center along with other memorabilia.

The practice expanded in the first Persian Gulf War in 1991 as support for deployed military personnel, with Congress even allowing the Secretary of the Interior to adorn the Statue of Liberty with a yellow ribbon. Since then, multiple pieces of legislation that support veterans and active military with the phrase "Yellow Ribbon" in their names have been passed, solidifying the military's association with the symbol. Many donation organizations have also popped up, selling yellow ribbon magnets, stickers, and pins, as well as other ways to support active duty members, but the United States Department of Defense cautions well-wishers to guard against scams by checking the watchdog website Charity Watch before purchasing anything or donating.

While National Suicide Prevention and Awareness is designated with a teal and blue ribbon, the International Association for Suicide Prevention developed an orange and yellow one. Furthermore, the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program also uses the color to promote awareness about teens in crisis, especially in schools. In 2021, one person died by suicide "every 11 minutes" in the United States, according to the CDC. This devastates entire communities, so it's no wonder that some would opt to buy awareness ribbons.

Another wide-reaching disease is endometriosis, which affects one in 10 women around the world (via the World Health Organization). It can be severely "debilitating," leaving the sufferer in near-constant pain that sometimes results in infertility. It's a disease with no clear cause or cure, and it's often misdiagnosed. Several cancer awareness ribbons are shades of yellow, too, including bone, appendix, and unspecified childhood cancer. 

Of course, there are other political reasons for displaying yellow ribbons, too. In 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine prompted many people to display Ukrainian flags, which are yellow and light blue. And at the 2024 Golden Globes, several stars sported yellow ribbon pins in support of the release of hostages held by Hamas. While none of these causes are likely to prompt the display of a yellow ribbon tied to a tree, it's still possible. But regardless of the reason, homeowners who hang these ribbons clearly care about something — or someone — very deeply.

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