Fiery, passionate, and rare, redheads have been the subject of fascination, admiration, and some fairly strange myths for centuries.
Comprising just 2% of the world’s population, they have a unique hair color that has given rise to a vast amount of folklore and superstition. Throughout history, people believed 11 bizarre myths about redheads.
They Were Conceived During “Unclean” Sex
In some medieval European societies, red hair was believed to be the direct result of conception that occurred during a woman’s menstrual cycle. This was an “unclean” act, and the red-haired offspring that was created was somehow marked by this uncleanliness.
This unfortunate notion helped fuel the social suspicion and stigma with which redheads were viewed during these periods.
They Are Secretly Vampires
This myth has surprisingly ancient roots, dating back to ancient Greece. The Greeks believed that redheads were at serious risk of becoming vampires upon death.
This was such a powerful superstition that it continued for centuries, merging with Eastern European folklore. In some places, the bodies of deceased redheads were actually burned in an attempt to prevent their supposed vampire state.
Their Fat Can Be Used for Poison
During the Spanish Inquisition, redheads were often the target of intense suspicion. Red hair was assumed to be a sign of witchcraft or Jewish heritage, and redheads were the victims of persecution.
One of the more gruesome beliefs that emerged during this dark age was that the fat of a red-haired person could be rendered into a highly effective poison.
They Have No Souls
This particularly nasty myth is a classic piece of anti-redhead propaganda that gained traction in medieval Europe. Usually blamed on their supposed link to witchcraft and trickery, the implication that redheads were soulless beings served to alienate them from the rest of society further.
This myth is infamously invoked in modern media, in one episode of the animated series South Park.
They Are All Witches or Wizards
The association of red hair with magic is one of the oldest and most persistent myths. The color of their hair was likened to an external sign of a deal with the devil or an internal magical ability, making them easy targets during times of fear and uncertainty.
They Are Descendants of Judas Iscariot
In some Christian traditions, red hair was likened to the mark of Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus. Artists in the Renaissance and afterward usually depicted Judas with fiery red hair to signify his treachery and deception.
This artistic tradition contributed to the general perception of redheads as naturally deceitful or treacherous.
They Attract Bees
One somewhat odd bit of folklore claims that bees will sting redheads more than people of any other hair color. There is no scientific rationale for this whatsoever, but it’s one old wives’ tale that simply won’t die.
Perhaps it was just a handy explanation for a random schoolyard bee sting.
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They Are a Product of Cain’s Mark
In certain interpretations of biblical lore, the first murderer, Cain, was marked by God from the beginning. In some traditions, it was believed that over time, the mark was associated with red hair, which his descendants were thought to inherit.
This myth demonized redheads as coming from a cursed or violent lineage, associating them with the first fratricide in humanity.
They Have Fiery Tempers
The “fiery redhead” stereotype is a classic for a reason. For centuries, it was believed that the color of someone’s hair directly influenced their temperament.
Red was associated with the planet Mars, the Roman god of war, which led to the belief that redheads were naturally hot-tempered, passionate, and prone to violence. Although personality is far more complex, this stereotype remains quite surprisingly common today.
They Were Unlucky for Ancient Egyptians
While certain cultures revered red hair, the ancient Egyptians were not among them. They associated the color with the desert god Set, a god of chaos and evil who was responsible for slaying his brother Osiris.
This led individuals to believe that redheads were unlucky, and some historical accounts even suggest that they were occasionally sacrificed to the gods in an effort to ensure a fruitful harvest.
They Steal the Color From Butter
Here’s a charming, absurd Russian folk tale. The red hair was believed to have the power to “steal” the vibrant yellow color from butter.
This is a beautiful example of how people used to come up with magical explanations for mundane occurrences, like a batch of churned cream that came out pale.
Key Takeaways
It’s remarkable to read these myths in hindsight and consider how a single physical trait could give rise to such an imaginative set of concepts. Luckily, we’ve evolved from superstition to science in our knowledge.
We now know that red hair is caused by a mutation in the MC1R gene, not vampires, witches, or butter thieves. It’s a humorous and somewhat strange tribute to how folklore evolves and how much things can change in the prevalent mindset over the decades.
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