Why Do Barber Shops Have Red, White, and Blue Poles?

 The iconic red, white, and blue barber pole is a symbol with a fascinating and slightly gruesome history. Its origins trace back to the Middle Ages when barbers were also surgeons.

The pole's colors are symbolic of the services they provided. The red stripe represents the blood from bloodletting, a common medical procedure at the time believed to cure illness. The white stripe symbolizes the bandages used to stop the bleeding. The pole itself may have represented the staff a patient would grip during the procedure. The spinning motion of the modern pole is said to mimic the bandages that would be hung on the pole to dry and flutter in the wind. The blue stripe was added much later, particularly in the United States, to match the colors of the American flag.

Over time, the two professions separated, but the barber pole remained a traditional symbol, with its colors now solely representing a place for a haircut, shave, and grooming.