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Ginger Summit: 3,000 Redheads Unite for Annual Redhead Day

by Alyzee | September 10, 2009 at 10:08 am

1932 views | 30 Recommendations | 6 comments

Around 3,000 redheads came together to celebrate annual redhead day in Breda, a city in the Netherlands. The event is called Roodharigendag and celebrates redheads of all ages and to spread the awareness that redheads make up 1 percent of the population and that they are becoming even less common, says genetic research. The festival has been going on for 5 years.

Thousands of redheads including a legion of children celebrated their day at Breda with picnics, art, workshops and competitions.

During the festival redheads were treated like celebrities for a fashion photoshoot of the event which enlisted a barrage of hairdressers, makeup artists and cameramen.

Many of the redheads attending told stories about discrimination they received for being redheaded. A family in Newcastle claimed that they were forced to leave their home in 2007 because of such anti-ginger sentiment.

The festival began with amateur painter Bart Rouwenhorst, a (blond) man who advertised for 15 redheaded models that he could paint. The barrage of emails he received turned his project into a photoshoot for 150 redheads. When the other applicants expressed regret that they had not been chosen, Rouwenhurst turned the gathering into an annual event.

"When people come together as redheads, they just look at each other," he says. "They have a certain bond. And I think this whole event will some day expand to multiple events, maybe across the world. I think the ginger community will start."

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generaldecay

at 11:00 on September 10th, 2009

Hurrah! If I'd known, I'd have gone! Well, I wouldn't but I'd have supported from a distance. :)

Amy Judd

at 15:46 on September 10th, 2009

I truly believe that Ron Weasley has made being a redhead cool again. Blaine thinks that Tila Swinton has helped too.

Blaine Metzgar

at 15:47 on September 10th, 2009

The previous comment has officially been confirmed.

RedDor (not verified)

at 17:07 on September 10th, 2009

Wow! It took about 40 years for me to appreciate being a redhead. We need to have an Annual Redhead Day closer to home.

jeannie gentle (not verified)

at 02:45 on November 4th, 2009

hello im jeannie, i live in luton beds uk, i am a natural redhead(ginger) aswell. i dyed my hair black ,from the age of 14 until about 5 yrs ago (now age 63) because i couldnt handle the ridicule ,there wasnt many redheads about in my days , so ridicule was bad, and often, its taken me 5yrs to restore to original colour amongst the grey lol, i dye the grey my natural colour now so i can have the joy of being a natural redhead, i have 1 sister and brother, also red heads and 2 grandsons who inherited it aswell , i totally agree with you to have an annual redhead day closer to home ,where ever home might be all over the world.it would be great and very unusual seeing so many redheads altogether, lets hope from jeannie

Singing in the rain (not verified)

at 13:27 on September 13th, 2009

I was there and It was again a perfect event.And most redheads were willing to pose if you asked.The twins wereso nice and enthousiastic. For more pictures see"www.flickr.com/photos/63768218@N00/search for Creame Fraiche If you like to see more of these beauty's visit my Flickr also for pictures of l ast year.Breda is really a fantastic city with a lot of events.Jazzfestifal, Breda Photo, Carnaval, Dance Tour. etc.