Superstitions About Red Heads


Dictionary

"SUPERSTITIONS"
-- From Latin ‘superstitio’ meaning ‘standing over’
-- An irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
-- Beliefs or practices resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, or trust in magic or chance.

"MYTHS"
-- From Greek 'mutho'
-- a widely held but false belief
-- a fictitious person or thing
-- A traditional story concerning the early history of a people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, typically involving the supernatural

(According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Wikipedia, and Onelook Dictionary)


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Butter Brown Star BulletIt’s felt that red-haired people don’t make good butter, for the butter always has a slight tang to it.

Brown Star Bullet Salute no red-haired man nearer than 30 feet off and, even so, hold 3 stones in the fist wherewith to defend thyself.

Brown Star BulletStraight and course red hair, also coarse and kinky, most always shows dishonesty.

Brown Star BulletRedheads have no soul. (A superstition propagated by an episode from "South Park" TV show.)

Brown Star BulletNever lodge at red-haired people’s houses for these be folks that are to dread.

Red Head WalkingBrown Star BulletIf you happen to walk any distance between 2 redheaded girls, it’s a sign that you will soon be very rich.

Brown Star BulletRed hair is the sign of a vixen.

Brown Star BulletRedheaded women are either violent or false and usually are both.

Brown Star BulletAn honor it is to have a child with red hair.

Brown Star BulletA lady with long red hair is glib of tongue, talkative, and vain.

Brown Star BulletAuburn or ginger hair denotes a person to be very passionate and hasty, very suspicious and extremely jealous; thereby much sorrow will come to such persons and those who associate with them.

Brown Star BulletRumored they'd turn into a vampire after they die. (Go figure!)

Brown Star BulletRed hair denotes a person of sharp wit, easily agitated, unforgiving, but once a friend, a true one.

Eye Brown Star BulletLet not the eye of a red-haired woman rest on you.

Brown Star BulletDo not let the shadow of a red-headed person fall upon you. It will work you back luck.

Brown Star BulletIn Spain, there is a strong prejudice against red hair, which originated in their belief that the hair of the traitor Judas Iscariot was red. The Irish, on the contrary, are very fond of red hair and thik it brings them good luck. They have an odd ditty which runs: "Heigh for the apple and ho! for the pear. But give me the girl with the pretty red hair.

Brown Star BulletLadies with red hair are usually great talkers.

Brown Star BulletIt is also said that Cain had red hair, and this will greatly account for the popular prejudice against it.

Brown Star Bullet In ancient Egypt, people with red hair were associated with the god Seth, the slayer of Osiris. (Noted in response to the famous pharaoh Ramesses II apparently being a redhead.)

Brown Star BulletCompletely opposite of the above note, I've also read that the ancient Egyptians were among the nations who held that color (red hair) to be unlucky, and they annually went through the ceremony of burning a maiden alive who had the misfortune to own a red head so as to exterminate those brilliant tresses from the country.

Brown Star BulletBed Icon In Donegal, if a girl is born with red hair, it is a sign there was a pig under the bed.

Brown Star BulletIn New Zealand, red hair is sacred, and a woman with red hair is believed to have a clear road to heaven.

Brown Star BulletRed hair was a sign of unclean sex (during menstruation); degenerate offspring.

Brown Star BulletRed hair was called the "Mark of Gilgamesh" (after a mysterious figure of this name around 2600 B.C.)

Brown Star BulletIf the person has red hair on the top of his head or the back of the neck, then he will be wealthy.

Brown Star BulletBees will sting redheads more

Brown Star BulletIf you should pass a redhead in the street, spit and turn around.

Brown Star BulletIf you pass by 3 red-haired people, you will win the state lottery.

Brown Star BulletA man with long red hair is cunning and deceitful...

Brown Star BulletBlack Red HeadA red beard and a black head catch him with a trick and take him dead.

Brown Star Bullet It is unlucky to see a red-headed Negro.

Brown Star Bullet It's lucky to rub your hand on the head of a redhead

Brown Star Bullet Rust in the pipes.

Brown Star Bullet Left me out in the rain and hair rusted.

Brown Star BulletIt's said that redheads are born witches, because their hair has turned red like the fires of hell.

Brown Star BulletFor many years redheaded women were not allowed at the craps tables in Las Vegas-they were thought to bring good luck to the gentleman that they accompanied, but bad luck to the others at the table. (Thanks to Susan!)


(SOURCES: SUPERSTITIONS FROM "Encyclopedia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World," originally published in 1903. Also collections of e-mails, readings, etc. Difficult to verify many of these, however!)


Puzzled ManDON'T YOU JUST WONDER HOW these superstitions, myths, old wives' tales got started???!!If you know of more, let me know on the "Contact Me" page and I'll gladly add them!


FlamesClick HERE to read about "STEREOTYPES about Redheads"...





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