The Origin of the Barber Pole
The spinning thing outside the barber shop is a barber pole. Barbers were once more than just hairdressers; they were also doctors who performed surgeries and bloodletting. The pole itself is said to symbolize the stick that a patient squeezed to make the veins stand out more prominently. After washing, bandages were hung to dry on the rod outside the shop, forming the familiar spiral pattern we see on the barber poles of today.
Symbolism of the Barber Pole
The red stripe represents arterial blood, the blue represents venous blood, and the white represents the bandages. Spinning barber poles move in a direction that makes the red appear as if it were flowing downwards, as it does in the body.
Historical Significance of the Barber Pole
In medieval Europe, "barber-butchers" were barbers who practiced surgery as well. The red and white ‘barber swirl’ in front of most barber shops today signifies blood and bandages which were common in their trade.