20 Interesting Facts About Redheads You Never Knew Before
15 Red-haired people are called “Redheads” instead of their original hair color which is orange, because the word “orange” was not coined until the 1500s.
The word “orange” was not used in the English language until the 1500s, and this is the major reason why redheads got their name “redheads.” Before the term orange was coined, English did not differentiate between orange and red as different colors. The term “redhead” has been in use since the mid-1200s. Many Bible characters and Gods in different cultures around the world are reputed to have been redheads. (1, 2)
16 Archaeologists have found evidence that redheads were around since the Neanderthal Age.
Researchers have found that ancient DNA from bones of Neanderthals shows they had pale skin and red hair. They confirmed at least 1% of them were likely redheads. The bones were 43,000 years old from Spain, and the other one was 50,000 years old from Italy. (source)
17 Redheads will never go extinct.
There is a common misconception that redheads can go extinct as there are very few of them. Even though redheads are a small percent of the population, their gene variant will last forever as there are many people who carry the recessive redhead gene. Also, 2% of the world population is not a small number. (source)
18 “Gingerphobia” refers to the fear or dislike of people with red hair. Redheads face severe discrimination in society.
People with red hair are different from most of the crowd. Even though it is a great conversation starter or ice breaker, discrimination against redheads is very common. In old texts, redheads were compared to witches and vampires. Even today they face severe discrimination and bullying for the color of their hair. These stereotypes, prejudice, and maltreatment they face on a regular basis are called “gingerism.” (1, 2)
19 May 26th every year is celebrated as “World Redhead Day.”
To empower redheads to love their hair despite all the societal discrimination, the first national redhead day was celebrated after two sisters came across “kick a ginger day.” They decided that redheads need to have a celebratory day to love themselves and rid themselves of the bullying and discrimination that comes out of being an odd duck in a large group since only 1% to 2% of the world population are redheads. (source)
20 A Redhead Convention is organized every year in Ireland. Similar celebrations take place all around the world.
The Redhead Convention takes place in southern Ireland for three days every year, where all the redheads come together for competitions. They are charity partners of the Irish Cancer Society. Other parts of the world also hold redhead gatherings like the one in the Netherlands, where every fall, thousands of redheads come together for Roodharigendag, the Redhead Days International Festival, which is a weekend-long festival. (1, 2)