Today is Valentine’s Day, and I’m seeing red. Red hearts, red balloons, red ribbons, red red red. So, let’s reflect on red.
How did it become the color for Feb. 14? Research tells us the day was named for St. Valentine, a third-century priest who was martyred by the Romans for ministering to Christians. Red must symbolize his bloody sacrifice.
Eighteenth-century Scottish poet Robert Burns famously compared his love to “a red red rose,” which is probably how it became the go-to flower for romance.
But red also warns of imminent danger: “Lady in Red,” Little Red Riding Hood, “the Hunt for Red October.”
There are a couple of episodes in 20th century American history where the threat of communism is referred to as the Red Scare. This red comes from the red flags that were a symbol of protest and revolution.
After joining various righteous movements in my younger days, I got an email urging women to wear red panties on March 8, International Women’s Day. I pondered the possibility and wondered if there was an Underwear March scheduled in Seattle on the eighth. (There wasn’t). So, if women wore red panties on that day, who’s to know, and what’s the point?
Secret sister solidarity, I suppose, so yes, perhaps I should don red panties on March 8. But first I had to go buy some (I didn’t).
Remember Red China? Mao Tse Tung’s 1949 communist takeover and subsequent government sounded ominous and threatening. But back then, little did we know that in China, red symbolizes luck, joy and happiness. So, the joke’s on us, color nincompoops!
In much of Asia, red is a lucky color. Brides in China, Japan and India wear red at their wedding, and during Lunar New Year, red banners flutter and celebrants receive lai see — lucky money in small red packets.
I used to be a Wong, the Cantonese version of Wang, the surname of a billion Chinese (I’m exaggerating … I think), but I have no memory of ever celebrating Lunar New Year in Hilo, which is why you didn’t get a Year of the Tiger column two weeks ago.
In fact, I didn’t know back then that red was our lucky color and avoided it because of the un-Asian connection to flashy, brassy, sexy. Definitely not me.
Even today, I don’t wear bright red except for an occasional Christmas scarf and never used red lipstick until my hair turned white. That’s when I noticed that in photos, I blended into a white background. So, I put on red lipstick for picture-taking, and now I look like the lingering, floating menacing Cheshire Cat in “Alice in Wonderland.”
Talk about a red scare.
Red has different meanings in other parts of the world, not only in Asia. In Latin America, red can be religious, in South Africa, it is the color for mourning, and in Korea, red shows a passion for sports.
In ancient Hawaii, red was worn only by ali‘i whose chiefly cloaks were made with red feathers plucked from the ‘i‘iwi bird. Today, the color red represents our island of Hawaii to symbolize Pele, the fire and volcano deity. When you watch hula, you will see red outfits and red lehua blossoms on dancers who are honoring her.
So, let’s enjoy Valentine’s Day today with whatever red that suits your fancy: red roses, red candy, red panties.
As for me, I’ll celebrate with that baby boomer favorite Neil Diamond and his 1967 hit song, “Red Red Wine.”
That’s my kind of red.
Rochelle delaCruz was born in Hilo, graduated from Hilo High School, then left to go to college. After teaching for 30 years in Seattle, Wash., she retired and returned home to Hawaii. She welcomes your comments at rainysideview@gmail.com. Her column appears every other Monday.
