Some people celebrate being a redhead every day of the year, but did you know that on one particular day the whole world lavishes their attention and praise on that genetically gifted minority?
Redheads come in all shades: from a deep burgundy, bright copper, and auburn, to carrot orange. Even the strawberry blond is actually a redhead.
This rare trait is usually associated with fair skin color, lighter eye color, freckles, and sensitivity to ultraviolet light. The rarest combination is red hair with blue eyes. May 26 is a day that honors the rarity and beauty of red hair, which is found in less than 2% of the global population.
World Redhead Day, celebrated on May 26th, was founded by Dutch artist Bart Rouwenhorst. It all started in 2005 when Rouwenhorst sought red-haired models for an art project and received an overwhelming response. This led to the creation of a festival in the Netherlands, which has since become a global celebration of the uniqueness and beauty of red hair, promoting pride and self-confidence among redheads.
This unique trait is most commonly associated with countries like Scotland and Ireland, where the occurrence of red hair is more frequent. Redhead festivals take place across the globe from the Netherlands to Israel.
However, the day is not just about celebrating the distinctiveness of red hair but also about recognizing the cultural and historical significance that redheads have had throughout history. Redheaded people haven’t always had an easy journey through life, as many traditional societies have historically discriminated against them.
In traditional societies red hair red hair has been associated with evil, vampires, and witches; outsiders were usually portrayed sporting red hair because red hair was not very common. Some historians also attribute this negativity towards the belief that Judas Iscariot (the disciple who betrayed Jesus) had red hair.
Perhaps because of its association with fire, redheads are also said to have a “fiery” temper. In the 16th and 17th centuries, women who had red hair were stigmatized as witches. An estimated 45,000 red-haired women suspected of being witches were burned during the witch trials. However, we have no way of knowing how many of them had red hair.
Some historical accounts claim that in ancient Asian civilizations (dating back to the second millennium B.C.), people were said to have red and auburn hair. There are several accounts of redheads in Greek literature. The ancient people Budini, Sarmatians, and Thracians were reported by Greek authors to be blue-eyed and red-haired.
Despite the hazardous associations, and the instances of discrimination against them, today acceptance has become the norm in many Western countries.
In modern times, the day is marked by festivities and gatherings, where redheads from all over come together to celebrate their shared trait. It’s a day filled with pride, where myths are dispelled, and the beauty of diversity is embraced. So, if you’re a redhead, May 26th is your day to shine and be celebrated for this unique trait that is yours.
There is also a magazine called “MC1R” exclusively for redheads. (“MC1R” stands for “melanocortin-1 receptor,” a protein-coding gene.)
