The World Celebrates Red heads

Did you know that November 5^th was the national Red-heads day in the USA?

Many Countries celebrate redhead days. From “Rossitalia” in Milan, Italy to “Ginger Pride Day” in Rome, Georgia, USA and “Red Love Festival” in Brittany, France, redheaded people are being celebrated all over the world all year long.

Germans celebrate in September, it’s in August in the Netherlands, and Italians celebrate in May. The date and duration of each celebration may vary but it’s still a holiday and an opportunity to congratulate all our redheaded friends. (See the events calendar at: Ginger Parrot)

Redhead Day began in the Netherlands, in 2005 with a Dutch summer festival that celebrated the beauty of natural red hair.

November 5th was National Love Your Red Hair Day and folks all over the nation celebrated people who sport the red locks of hair. Often called carrot top, copper top, bright penny, gingers, red, strawberry, Pippy Longstocking and other nick-names, red-headed folks are in the minority. Did people suggest that your red hair made you hot tempered or ask you if “the carpet matches the drapes”?  Do they expect you to have freckles and know how to dance a jig?

The co-founders of How to be a Redhead, Stephanie and Adrienne, (two red-headed sisters)  noticed there were hateful days like “Kick a Ginger Day” and wanted a day that spread a positive message instead. So, in 2015 they instigated the 1st Annual Love Your Red Hair Day which was celebrated on the final Rock it like a Redhead Beauty Tour stop in 2015.

Today Love Your Red Hair Day is recognized by the National Day Calendar:

“We wanted to create a national recognized day of the year that empowered redheads to LOVE their hair. But, most of all, it’s a reminder for women everywhere, redhead or not, to love their unique qualities.” ~ Co-Creator, Stephanie Vendetti

Statistics:

World-wide, only about  2-4% percent of the human population has red hair, most of them in the UK, Ireland and Australia. The highest concentration of redheads is in Scotland, with 13% of its population sporting red hair followed by Ireland with10% red-heads. In the US, only 2% of people have red hair.

Contrary to what many people think, redheads did not originate in the UK, but in Central Asia around 100,000 years ago.

Only about 1% of the population is a blue-eyed redhead, making them the rarest in the world.  

It takes both parents carrying the specific gene to produce a redheaded child because the gene for red hair is recessive. And the red hair may show up several generations later.

Medical issues:

Several articles list medical risks for red-heads. Of course, exposure to sunlight creates sunburns, but also a higher incidents of skin cancer. It takes less energy to create potentially cancer-causing free radicals in people with red hair.

In another study, redheads have a nearly 90 percent higher risk for the neurological disorder, Parkinson’s, which causes progressive difficulties with balance and coordination. It may have to do with a mutation in the specific gene related to red hair that also spells a higher risk for Parkinson’s, which also appears to affect pain receptors in the brain.

Redheads are more sensitive to pain. Research shows that they require about 20 percent more anesthesia than blondes or brunettes. According to a study published in Anesthesiology, redheads are more resistant to pain medications like Novocain and the dental anesthetic lidocaine. In addition, they are more sensitive to pain caused by cold and heat.

A 2012 study found children with rare birthmarks called Congenital Melanocytic Naevi were more likely to have the gene mutation that causes red hair than children without the birthmarks. A congenital (meaning present at birth) melanocytic nevus (like a mole) is one common type of birthmark, caused by a cluster of color (pigment) cells in the skin and sometimes in deeper tissues.

A 2006 study of more than 90,000 women ages 25 to 42 found that women with red hair were 30 percent more likely to develop endometriosis compared to women with any other hair color.

On the good-news side of things:

            –Redheads, produce enough Vitamin D. That’s almost like having a super power.  My daughter is one redhead who tans, which is unusual, as redheads tend to burn when exposed to UV rays. Scientists have found that fair skin has an important anti-disease property because it soaks up more vitamin D which is essential for bone health, for preventing osteoporosis and for fighting infections like tuberculosis. This trait most likely protected many redheads against rickets. Some researchers believe it may also boost immunity and help prevent some cancers.=

            -Redhead men don’t get prostate cancer as much as other men. During a study, it was discovered that only 5% of men with red hair fell ill with this disease.

Historical red-heads:

(this is not an exhaustive list, merely a list of a few of my favorites)

Although natural red hair is admired these days because of its distinctiveness, redheads have received mixed attitudes throughout history. Alternatively admired or ridiculed for the color of their hair, opinions about red hair have always been polarized. Redheads, throughout history have been portrayed as beautiful and brave or promiscuous, violent, wild, hot tempered and immoral.

Mary Magdalene (early BC) is a figure from the Bible described, in the New Testament, as one of the most important women in the movement of Jesus throughout his ministry.

Queen Elizabeth I, (1533 – 1603) known as the virgin queen, was one of the most powerful monarchs.  While the Middle-ages were hard on redheads, during the Elizabethan era, red hair became a desirable quality because Queen Elizabeth I made it fashionable. Women of the time wanted to have red hair like her and in paintings were often portrayed as redheads.

Winston Churchill, (1874-1965) the British politician and statesman, known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War, served as prime minister twice. Churchill was also an officer in the British Army, a historian, a writer and and artist. He is the only British prime minister to have received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Winston Churchill was the first person to be made an honorary citizen of the United States.

Maureen O’Hara (1920-2015) The red-headed actress was noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with a highly sensible attitude, most famously in “The Quiet Man”. Her autobiography, “Tis Herself”, was published in 2004.

Lucile Ball (1911-1989) Lucile was a monumentally pioneering female comedian most famous for the I Love Lucy TV show with her husband, Desi Arnez. Ball was also a star of Broadway and the Big Screen.

Harry Windsor, Duke of Sussex. (in full Prince Henry Charles Albert David,) duke of Sussex, earl of Dumbarton, Baron Kilkeel, formerly Prince Harry of Wales, was born September 15, 1984, in London, England. One of the most talked about gingers in the world, As the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, he is sixth in the line of succession to the British throne. Harry married Meghan Markle who became the first American to be officially engaged and then married to a British royal.

Conan O’Brien ((born in 1963, Massachusetts, USA) Host of a TV late night talk show and comedian; best known as host of Late Night with Conan O’Brien (1993–2009), The Tonight Show (2009–10), and Conan (2010–21). With over 28 million followers on Twitter, O’Brien is one of the most famous redheads of all time.

Fun facts about red-heads:

Even though red-heads have fewer strands of hair than people with other colored hair, (only have 90,000 strands vs. blonds with 140,000.) red hair is typically thicker so they it still looks just as full.

It’s a high honor to have a redheaded child in Denmark because red hair is rare and unique.

The name of the country of Russia means “Land of the Reds” to honor Rurik, a redheaded Viking.

Redheads are more likely to be left-handed; there are scientific studies that say left-handed people live longer than right-handed people.

Redheads don’t go grey as they age. In most cases they go from red to blonde to white.

“An 1886 study by Dr. Augustin Galopin observed a redhead woman gave off an earthy and sensual scent, and later it was discovered that when perfume is sprayed onto a redhead’s skin it will smell different as a result of their rare biochemistry.” (From National Today)

The pioneers of red hair began to spread to the Balkans and central and Western Europe, during 2000-1500 BC and this area became established as the geographical and historical homeland of red-haired culture.

The Thracians worshipped gods with red hair and blue eyes, (around 1000 B.C.) which is actually the rarest hair and eye color combination.

There were redheaded Neanderthals.

Contrary to some speculators, redheads are not becoming extinct.

Red-headed women are viewed as loose, libidinal and wild. Red-headed men are temperamental and quick to violence, yet there is no actual evidence of these preconceived ideas.

   “One of the oldest Norse documents, the Prose Edda, has an interesting little bit of redhead history. In it, Odin the All-Father, ruler of the gods of Asgard, is described as being a wise and thoughtful ruler with blonde hair. His son Thor, though, is possessed of a full head of red hair, an enormous bushy red beard, and a temper quick to flare.” (from OMG facts)

Gingerphobia is a fear of redheads: some people are afraid of individuals with red hair.

Which might help us understand the thinking of folks in the middle-ages who considered redheads to be witches or vampires, and notable artists such as Anthony van Dyke and even Shakespeare attributing redhead characteristics as untrustworthy and treacherous.

And it’s not just hair—in nearly every society, the color red is associated with danger. Stop signs, fire, blood: the sight of red means danger and stay away. Scientists are discovering that reaction might be hard-wired into the brains of primates.

Red shades are the most sought-after hair dye colors all over the world. People of countries such as India, Iran, and Pakistan use henna to get that red glint in their hair. Redheads are the easiest hair color to spot in a crowd, but they are also the hardest color to get from a bottle and red hair dye tends to fade faster than any other color.

Natural red hair holds on to its pigment better, making it difficult to dye.

Because red has often been seen as psychologically powerful, various Egyptian rulers chose to rule with red henna in their hair.

So, if you are a red head, celebrate your good fortune. If you know a red head, tell them how fabulous they are.

Resources:

“Redhead day is Nov. 5! 9 fun facts about red hair” by  cbs8.com at: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/redhead-day-is-nov-5-9-fun-facts-about-red-hair/509-1741b033-265e-4fea-898f-49aa89ef285b

National Love Your Red Hair Day At: http://www.loveyourredhairday.com/

Fiery facts about red heads by  in Everyday Health at: https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty-pictures/6-fiery-facts-about-redheads.aspx#08

5 Health Risks for being a red-head By Rachael Rettner August 22, 2013

at: https://www.livescience.com/39095-redhead-health-risks.html

13 Astounding Facts About Redheads by Adina Berstein on May 14, 2015. At: https://howtobearedhead.com/13-astounding-facts-about-redheads/

5 statistics every redhead needs to know by Confidance on Feb. 27th 2015, at: https://howtoberedhead.com/5-statistics-every-redhead-needs-to-know/

Calendar of Redhead Events 2021, from Ginger Parrot at: https://gingerparrot.co.uk/calendar-of-redhead-events/

World Redhead Day! Maureen O’Hara and the most famous redheads in history by Irish Central Staff, May 26, 2021 from Irish Central, at: https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/famous-redheads

Redhead Appreciation Day – Sept. 23, 2022 by National Today, at: https://nationaltoday.com/redhead-appreciation-day/

The violent History of Red Hair by K. Thor Jensen, August 30, 2017, in OMG Facts, at: https://medium.com/omgfacts/the-violent-history-of-red-hair-2c609aa485ac