A red door is a perfect piece for any home design or color. The brightness of the door stands elegant around the front walls. This gives the building a distinctive image that grabs attention.
But beyond the beauty, there are some cultural and historical attachments to a red front door.
What does a red front door mean?
There are several things a red front door can mean depending on culture and tradition. It could mean a welcoming home that is open to all. It could also be a sign of good luck, fame, protection, positive energy, and safety. A red front door can be a sign of a fully paid mortgage or even a sign of rebellion.
It is undoubtedly beautiful to have a red front door, but there is more. It could mean a different thing to someone from a different culture. It has specific meanings in American history, Irish, Scottish and Chinese Cultures.
There also is a religious and spiritual angle to what a red front door represents.
Here are the various meanings attached to the red-colored front doors across history and races.
What does a Red front Door mean spiritually?
Contents
There is a biblical record that shows some spiritual implications for having a red front door. The Hebrew slaves in the land of Egypt were instructed to put the red blood of lambs on their front doors. This was to prevent the angel of death from killing their firstborns over the night.
This was the start of the Passover feast. The angel of death was to pass through the land of Egypt that night. And every house that does not have the blood of a lamb on its front door will wake with dead firstborns.
The Jews, in light of this, began using red as a sign of protection on their front doors. Christians may make use of red front doors to depict the cross and the blood of Jesus. It is believed that a red front door shields off evil spirits from entering a house.
In Christianity and church history, red also has significance. The color has been linked with the protestant churches. It is said that many of them have red doors because the Wittenburg Cathedral in Wittenburg, Germany, where Martin Luther King posted his 95 theses, was painted red.
So red is a sign of reformation, and so protestant churches have red front doors.
Is it bad luck to have a red front door?
In China, red is a very significant color that means good luck, health, and wellness. A red front door then means a lot in welcoming guests with positive energies. The red front door then is not bad luck but rather the exact opposite in China.
The color red itself is not in any way associated with bad luck. Red is a sign of immense energy. It could sometimes signify danger or something alarming. But it is not an indicator of bad luck in any way.
The Chinese also use the red painting of their front door as a mark of the Chinese New Year. It is also believed that the red color wards off bad luck and evil. Beyond China, it is a common cultural belief across the East that red symbolizes luck and wealth.
In China, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam, brides do dress in red because it is believed to bring them good luck. On entering a house with a red front door, they enter with good luck and wellness. There is no culture that sees a red front door as bad luck. It has rather been seen as a figure of good luck and wellness.
What does a red front door mean in America?
In American Culture, there is a significance to having a red front door. During the civil war, the houses with red front doors are marked as safe places where African-American slaves on the run can come for safety.
It is a welcoming sign for the slaves to enter the houses where the owners provide them with food and shelter. This was practiced during the Underground Railroad of the Civil war. Houses in the North American States and Canada were heavily involved.
Many Black American slaves were known to have been saved through these gestures during the civil war. There is no specific number of slaves that were saved at this time. But it was a popular practice in the 1850s in America.
In ancient American culture, a red front door signifies a welcoming place for tired and hungry travelers. These houses are seen as a place of rest and shelter for people in need of food and shelter. This comes as a big help for travelers at night.
In modern America, this is no longer the usual belief. People now have red front doors to show love and connection to the community. It is rather a sign of being a loving neighbor than a sign for anybody to come asking for a bed or food.
What does a red front door mean in Scotland?
In Scottish tradition, a red front door means fully paid mortgages. It is a sign of financial freedom and a mortgage-free home. In the early days, red paint used to be very costly. And so, it was only affordable for debt-free homeowners.
As it was practiced in the early times, it is practiced today in Scotland. Many houses still have red doors to show they are free of mortgage. Unlike the olden days, the red paint is not considerably higher in price than other colors, but the tradition is still maintained.
In the reformation movement, the red front door also has significance. Many members of the reformation movement have red front doors. Many Lutheran and Protestant churches are with red front doors.
What does the red front door mean in Feng Shui Tradition?
In the Feng Shui tradition, the red color represents the fire element. The Feng Shui tradition is an ancient Chinese pseudoscientific practice. It is also called Chinese Geomancy. The belief claims to harmonize each individual with his environment using energy forces.
This energy comes from the specific arrangement, patterns, and colors of objects. Since the door is the gateway of entry into a home, it is believed that painting it red will usher in positive energy, recognition, fame, and luck.
The Feng Shui belief limits the red door to only the south direction. It is believed that the south is the place for the fire element, which red represents. So, having a red door in the south entrance brings in the yang energy that is needed for good luck, fame, and prosperity.
This is why in ancient China, red front doors are not for everyone. It was only for high-ranking government officials because it is connected to fame. But in modern times, there are no such restrictions anymore.
Since Feng Shui is particular about positioning, it is important to have the red door placed at the south entrance. The southern direction must be decided from inside the house. If the front door is not in the south, it is rather best painted in other appropriate colors.
What does a red front door mean in Irish Culture?
There is Irish folklore that supports the use of red front doors. It is believed that a red front door protects the house against evil spirits. The house with a red door is protected from ghosts and any other form of evil.
Another rather funny reason for having red doors in Irish culture is that it helps a drunken man to locate his home. Due to the brightness of the red color, it is believed that a drunk man can easily recognize his door when it is red.
There is yet another angle to the red front door tradition in Ireland. A red front door can symbolize rebellion. During the time of Queen Victoria, the people were ordered to have their doors painted black to honor her. But instead, they opted to paint their doors in red and other bright colors to show rebellion.
Final Thoughts
A red front door has various meanings that are deep in cultural roots and practices. These beliefs may not hold much water again today in the light of civilization. But it is good that the red front door has been associated with positive things.
It is not a bad idea to adorn a front door in garments of red paint. The color is energetic and elicits positivity. I see red has shown to be fitting for any house type and color and so should be an excellent front door color choice for anyone.
As an American, Irish, Chinese, Scot, or any other culture, a red front door is a symbol of a welcoming home. A place of love and warmth, open to cater and meet people’s needs. That is a place I would love to be.
Let the historical and cultural attachments rest for a while, and consider the beauty and bold look of a red front door. Quite a commanding figure, I can see.
