If you believe the Vikings series on the History Channel, it would appear that the majority of the Vikings were blondes. In Marvel’s Thor, he is blonde. The truth of the matter is that the god of thunder as well of a fair share of Vikings had red hair. According to Professor Donna Heddle, director of the University of the Highlands and Islands’ Centre for Nordic Studies, red hair was a cultural marker to the travels of the Vikings found in such places as Scotland and Russia. Now some would argue that red hair comes from the Celtics as well.
In my case, I have red hair from my Norwegian father, unless my dad is the mailman, and red hair from my German mother. Neither of my parents have red hair. My German grandmother had beautiful red curly locks. I have never met my dad’s parents but his kids from his first marriage to an Italian woman produced 2 kids with red hair. Yes I was treated like a red-haired stepchild. So if we are all to thank the Vikings for our red hair, I guess they journeyed to Italy because it takes red-haired genes from both parents to make redhead babies. Plus my wife’s great-grandfather, Angelo, who was Italian had striking red hair. He was a wild man too, wooing his future wife away from the convent by writing her love letters from his own blood during the second world war. Vikings were known to attack convents of ‘brides of Christ.’ I stole my woman from the Sister Theresa convent too.
Eric the Red, the fierce red-haired Viking who discovered Greenland about AD 982. NB: Scan of small illustration.
When redheads are described, usually words of energy come to mind, like fiery, hot-tempered and flaming. Picture Vikings raiding seacoast villages and establishing trade routes throughout Europe. Even the country name, Russia, where Vikings sailed on the Volga River, means ‘to row.’ The Vikings traveled far and wide, from North America to the Mediterranean. Ancient redheads are known to have traveled worldwide, evidenced in the discovery of red-haired mummies found everywhere, including South America and China.
Studies have shown that redheads have a propensity for hyperactivity. An Israeli psychiatrist, Dr Michael Bar, reported that redheaded children are three to four times more likely than others to develop hyperactivity. He said, “it’s possible that the assumed national characteristics of certain ethnic groups, like the adventurousness of the Vikings and the temperament of the Irish, are connected to the high frequency of redheads among them.” Another doctor, a pediatrician who specializes in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Lendon Smith from Portland, Oregon, theorizes that an amino acid, tyrosine, that regulates pigmentation, is related to this hyperactive behavior. Smith also noted that these children are usually deficient in calcium and magnesium.
Astrologers claim there is a connection between the red planet Mars and the fiery nature of people with red hair. Redheads are notorious for their well-known hot-tempered, high strung and sensitive natures. In astrology, if the planet Mars is in your charts, it has the affect of placing fiery, competitive and almost explosive tendencies into your behavior. Research astrologers Judith Hill and Jacalyn Thompson made a discovery in their study of 500 redheads that makes a connection to Mars and redheads.
So if you are a redhead with many interests, ie ‘too many irons in the fire,’ don’t worry, it’s a redhead thing. I, myself, have moved over 30 times from Minnesota to Montana to California.
Sources:
The Redhead Book by Al Sacharov
Edward Snow Astrology News Service “The Volatile Connection Between Redheads and Mars”
This is the motto of a red-haired festival in a location that might surprise: Russia. The Udmurtia ethnic nation claims to have the most red hair outside Ireland.
At first thought, the idea of redheads uniting around the world was a little perplexing. What would be the purpose? Personally, would I want to be around a bunch of people like myself? I guess I relish being unique in the world. In fact it might be a little scary, the thought that our red hair might all catch on fire or a big fight might break out. Perhaps take over the world!
Places where you should encounter red hair!
Billings, Montana June 2-3, 2018
Gingerfest V in Boise, Idaho on June 8th, 2018
Redhead Days in Chicago, Illinois on July 6-8, 2018
Redheads Unite in Colorado on July 14, 2018
Celtic Festival Missoula, Montana on July 28, 2018
Irish Festival, St. Paul, Mn Aug 10-12, 2018- Good times!
Vista Viking Festival, Vista, Ca Sept. 22-23, 2018- I highly recommend this event.
Redhead Days in the Netherlands
Redhead Picnic in Dunbar West Virginia in September 2018
The most amazing conspiracy theory about redheads is that they traveled around the world in ancient times creating civilization. Evidence for this is the discovery of redhead mummies found worldwide. This behavior was carried on several thousand years later with the Vikings who traveled across Russia establishing trade routes, who founded Dublin in Ireland and sailed all the way to modern day Nova Scotia, 500 years before Columbus.
This is the motto of a red-haired festival in a location that might surprise: Russia. The Udmurtia ethnic nation claims to have the most red hair outside Ireland.
At first thought, the idea of redheads uniting around the world was a little perplexing. What would be the purpose? Personally, would I want to be around a bunch of people like myself? I guess I relish being unique in the world. In fact it might be a little scary, the thought that our red hair might all catch on fire or a big fight might break out. Perhaps take over the world!
Redheads are Fiery!
Eric the Red, the fierce red-haired Viking who discovered Greenland about AD 982. NB: Scan of small illustration.
When redheads are described, usually words of energy come to mind, like fiery, hot-tempered and flaming. Picture Vikings raiding seacoast villages and establishing trade routes throughout Europe. Even the country name, Russia, where Vikings sailed on the Volga River, means ‘to row.’ The Vikings traveled far and wide, from North America to the Mediterranean. Ancient redheads are known to have traveled worldwide, evidenced in the discovery of red-haired mummies found everywhere, including South America and China.
Studies have shown that redheads have a propensity for hyperactivity. An Israeli psychiatrist, Dr Michael Bar, reported that redheaded children are three to four times more likely than others to develop hyperactivity. He said, “it’s possible that the assumed national characteristics of certain ethnic groups, like the adventurousness of the Vikings and the temperament of the Irish, are connected to the high frequency of redheads among them.”
Redheads are from Mars?
Astrologers claim there is a connection between the red planet Mars and the fiery nature of people with red hair. Redheads are notorious for their well-known hot-tempered, high strung and sensitive natures. In astrology, if the planet Mars is in your charts, it has the affect of placing fiery, competitive and almost explosive tendencies into your behavior.
So if you are a redhead with many interests, ie ‘too many irons in the fire,’ don’t worry, it’s a redhead thing.
Places where you should encounter red hair!
Billings, Montana June 2-3, 2018
Gingerfest V in Boise, Idaho on June 8th, 2018
Redhead Days in Chicago, Illinois on July 6-8, 2018