The red and white pole outside barber shops references a time when barbers were expected to perform bloodletting and other medical procedures to heal the sick; red represented blood and white represented bandages. If you want to read more click here
Lough Foyle, Moville co. Donegal
16 November, 2016
barbershop
Growing up, the barbershop I went to had its pole mounted on the side of the building where the shop was. It was red, white and blue. Here it is red and white, I haven't seen many of these but now I am curious and will keep an eye out for them to see if they are different. I never knew what the colors represented so I did a search and found this
The red and white pole outside barber shops references a time when barbers were expected to perform bloodletting and other medical procedures to heal the sick; red represented blood and white represented bandages. If you want to read more click here
The red and white pole outside barber shops references a time when barbers were expected to perform bloodletting and other medical procedures to heal the sick; red represented blood and white represented bandages. If you want to read more click here
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What a tidy shop with a great sign! Our local barber's is actually named 'Blood and Bandages'!
ReplyDeleteThat would put many off, I think!
Nice find, Bill !
ReplyDeleteOur barbershops don't have colored poles outside...
Estão de volta as tradicionais barbearias, gostei.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e boa semana.
Andarilhar
cute little sign! interesting about the pole! now i will have to be on the lookout for the red and whites..i've only seen, that i'm aware of the red,white and blues!
ReplyDeleteyour post reminded me the time of my childhood back in my village when for the all men of this small village [32 houses only] came the long beard Barber twice in a week and shaved them
ReplyDeletehe was famous for being miser and talkative
The barber pole is a universal sign!
ReplyDeleteDon't see many of those poles anymore. There's a red, white and blue one a building that is supposed to look like an old-timey barber shop in Brownwood, The Villages.
ReplyDeleteYou are right; barber poles are no longer commonplace. Thanks for the historical background; somehow I knew that but had totally forgotten the information.
ReplyDeleteThe colour information is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteAlways something new, now the colours...
ReplyDeleteI've only been aware of the red white and blue poles. Since I shave my head, I haven't been in a barbershop or hair stylist in years.
ReplyDeleteWell imagine that! You learn something new every day hey Bill.. Hopefully no bloodletting today, apart from the occasional nick when giving a shave 😀
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the red and white. What I find unusual here is the placement of the 'pole' on the pavement. First time I have seen that.
ReplyDeleteThat is NEW for me ( I followed the link, thanks).
ReplyDeleteWho knew!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's exactly how I felt about a number of the barbers I experienced as a boy. :-)
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's exactly how I felt about a number of the barbers I experienced as a boy. :-)
ReplyDeleteSo interesting! As I read your explanation I had a foggy memory of some kind of "medical" procedure but I think I had completely forgotten it was bloodletting. And the red and white poles was all news to me.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing barber poles, too. Knew the color explanation, but it's always somehow 'cheerful' to see them.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing barber poles, too. Knew the color explanation, but it's always somehow 'cheerful' to see them.
ReplyDeleteThe traditional barber shop I visit in Hartford has one of these barber poles, but the more modern one in Naples doesn't. Personally, I like to see traditions be preserved.
ReplyDelete