Need we say more?

Redhead women’s costumes…

1. Pippi Longstocking
The hero of every little girl and more than a few big ones.
“‘Well then,’ said Pippi. ‘You’ll have to get kids for your children’s home somewhere else. I certainly don’t intend to move there.’”

2. Wilma Flintstone
The hottest stone age MILF. How did Fred hook her?
“Oh Fred!”

3. Jessica Rabbit

The most sultry redheaded toon to grace the big screen.
“I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way.”

4. Jane Jetson
The very patient space age wife of George.
“Elroy!”

5. Daphne from Scooby Doo
Fight crime old school style. Zoinks!
“Would you do it for a Scoobie Snack?”

6. Raggedy Anne
Of dolls and dames.
“Candy hearts and paper flowers will always keep me close to you.”

7. Leeloo
The Perfect Being from the fifth element.
“Me fifth element – supreme being. Me protect you.”

8. Anne of Green Gables
The redheaded orphan from Prince Edward Island.
“It’s so easy to be wicked without knowing it, isn’t it? ”

9. Little Orphan Annie
Another redheaded orphan. Hopefully Daddy Warbucks will find you!
“The sun will come out tomorrow”

10. Ariel
The Little Mermaid from the Disney movie.
“I just don’t see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad.”

Redhead men’s costumes…

1. Alfred E. Newman
Mad magazine’s iconic cover boy and fictional mascot.
“What me worry?”

2. William Shakespeare
Of course a man of this talent must be a redhead!
“Is many a man has more hair than wit”

3. Green Lantern
Yes his alter ego Guy Gardener is a redhead.
“And I shall shed my light over dark evil… for, the dark things cannot stand the light… the light of the Green Lantern”

4. Grounds Keeper Willie
The Springfield Elementary School Caretaker from The Simpsons.
“Bonjour you cheese eating surrender monkeys!”

5. Philip J. Fry
Planet Express Delivery’s redhead delivery boy.
“I’m experienced with foraging. I used to find edible mushrooms on my bath mat!”

6. Raggedy Andy

Raggedy Ann’s brother. This is a great couples costume.
“It’s the cruelest mean I’ve ever heard of”

7. Howdy Doody
Good old fashion fun. Everyone will know who you are.
“It’s Howdy Doody Time”

8. Woody Woodpecker

The ultimate red tufted troublemaker.
“Hu-hu-hu-ha-ha!”

9. Beaker
The nervous assistant to Dr. Bunsen Honeydew from the Muppet Show.
“Mee Mee Moo Moo Mee Mee Mind”

10. Archie Andrews

So hard to choose. Betty or Veronica.
[about Reggie] “He’s got a case of terminal jerkiositude.”

Let us know if you have any other unusual redhead costumes, or better still send us your Halloween photos!

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Originally uploaded by deborah jaffe

There is a common derogatory phrase ‘redheaded stepchild’ and I wanted to find its origin. Neither the simple nor the longer version ‘beat you like a redhead stepchild’ are attributed to any one known source. However, speculation on how these phrase(s) came about are as follows:

1. The expression “Red-headed stepchild” actually originated as “Red-headed nigger”. It referred to the embarrassing, often red-headed mulatto slave children on plantations (the result of the master’s dalliance with the slave women).¹

2. The Norse trickster god Loki is often depicted with red hair and beard, and he is an adopted child (son of a giant but foster parented by Odin).

Of course, I don’t recall any stories in which Loki is specifically
beaten (threatened with a beating by Thor, maybe), but he is punished in other ways often enough, notably for his part in the death of Balder, where he is chained up under a serpent who drips painful venom upon him.

Maybe Loki also contributed to the cliche, but “chained up beneath a
snake that drips painful venom on you like a red-headed and red-bearded foster child” just didn’t make it, succinctness-wise…..

Or maybe not.²

3. This is pretty much within earlier traditional expressions of contempt for redheads as unreliable, untrustworthy and ill-tempered. The Egyptians sacrificed redheads, if I remember correctly. Poor old Esau was made redheaded by painters who associated him with his red land of Edom. Legend made Judas a redhead and one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse rides the red horse of conflict. The Irish held a better view of redheads, but even so, they had na Trì Deirg, the three redheaded horsemen of death and destruction, dressed in red and astride red horses. Then there are the nervous jokes about redheaded babies born to a mother and father who
aren’t. So, saying “beaten like a redheaded step-child” seems congruent with all that and not particularly novel. Rumor has it that some have been overheard actually offering to pay to see Carrot Top beaten in public, but I have been unable to verify either that or his step-status.

And then along came Rita Hayworth and Nicole Kidman, and a whole tradition faded far, far away…

John Dyson
Spanish and Portuguese
Indiana University³

4. It is a slang insult born of violence that has become a catch phrase. It means “to beat you extremely”, assuming that in anger or frustration you would beat a redheaded stepchild more than any other child because she/he is less desirable – both for being a stepchild and for being redheaded.

In the poorer classes one might beat a stepchild more than their own because they care less for them than their own child. The redheaded part may be a reference to the hotheadedness that redheads are supposed to be prone to, which would incite the beating all the more.

It is probably anonymous, coming from less educated people who use and make up their own slang frequently. I’m betting on anonymous because I can’t see a person who would make up such a thing being interested in going on record for it, nor would it be something to be proud of, nor is it quite that famous that enough people would care who came up with it. It could, however, eventually be attributed to someone, though probably the wrong person and some time after it was actually first said.

((http://en.allexperts.com/q/Literature-697/Origin-Phrase.htm))

(This answer was also disputed on the premise that poor people are not the only people who beat their children and/or others.))

Do you know of other possible origins for this derogatory phrase? If so, message us at the_redhead at red head watch dot com.

1. http://en.allexperts.com/q/Literature-697/f/Origin-Phrase.htm
2. http://en.allexperts.com/q/Literature-697/Origin-Phrase.htm
3. http://en.allexperts.com/q/Literature-697/Origin-Phrase.htm

Image Source: http://www.starley.com/2006/06/coming_soon_inp.html

“All throughout history, from Reuben to Robbins, redheads have been recognized as a rare breed. Blondes may have more fun, brunettes may be brainier, but when it comes down to raw energy, creativity, and personality … you just can’t beat a redhead well, you can, but beware … she’ll probably beat you back!”

-Redheads Unlimited

“I love being a redhead. It’s a rare thing, so I think there’s a bond between redheads.“

-Laura Prepon

“It was dreadful. They tried to put the little redhead in a cage.“

- Sarah Ferguson

“Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead.“

- Lucille Ball

“When I was a kid, my dream was to be a farmer and marry Charlie Brown . I wanted to rescue him and make him happy. Besides, he was always lusting after the little redhead girl.“

- Alicia Witt

“You can sleep with a blonde, you can sleep with a brunette, but you’ll never get any sleep with a redhead!“

- Jamie Luner

Many, many more to come soon…