It’s been mentioned other places but barbers used to wear many hats, especially in more rural areas depending on the skills of the man they apprenticed under, practical surgery rather than book learning doctor stuff. They did everything from hair, shaving, leeching, bloodletting, circumcision, stitches, setting broken bones, amputations, prosthetics, dentistry, undertaker services (for when any of the rest goes wrong). The pole was a sign to the illiterate townsfolk, here’s where you get all the bloody services much like a big horseshoe indicates the blacksmith, a boot for the cobbler (shoemaker), or big scissors and thread shows you a tailor shop.
It’s been mentioned other places but barbers used to wear many hats, especially in more rural areas depending on the skills of the man they apprenticed under, practical surgery rather than book learning doctor stuff. They did everything from hair, shaving, leeching, bloodletting, circumcision, stitches, setting broken bones, amputations, prosthetics, dentistry, undertaker services (for when any of the rest goes wrong). The pole was a sign to the illiterate townsfolk, here’s where you get all the bloody services much like a big horseshoe indicates the blacksmith, a boot for the cobbler (shoemaker), or big scissors and thread shows you a tailor shop.
Just for the record, in my experience at least (I’m in my late 60s), the traditional barber-surgeon’s pole in the UK is red and white. Red for blood, white for bandages is how I was taught it. Image searches largely support that. I’m not saying that you won’t see blue, but it feels like a recent/US addition.
(Just asked my wife what colour a barber’s pole is. Without prompting: “Red and white”. So it’s not just me.)
Just for the record, in my experience at least (I’m in my late 60s), the traditional barber-surgeon’s pole in the UK is red and white. Red for blood, white for bandages is how I was taught it. Image searches largely support that. I’m not saying that you won’t see blue, but it feels like a recent/US addition.
(Just asked my wife what colour a barber’s pole is. Without prompting: “Red and white”. So it’s not just me.)
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