An Old Italian Legend about Red Hair

The other day I came across the pdf Legends, Mysteries an Curiosities of the Province of Rimini. The province of Rimini is located in the Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy. The city of Rimini and the whole riviera romagnola are probably famous abroad above all for their summer entertainments, but the city and its province have a very risch cultural, artistic and environmental heritage. 

 If you go to page 108, you’ll read a legend of Rimini about kidnapping of virgins. According to it, a group of friars were used, once a year, to kidnap a virgin, give her a sleeping potion, and use her to celebrate, in secret, a living representation of the miracle of the Mother of God (which I don't know what it is). The girl would be eventually taken back to her house and she would remember nothing. 

However, one night Brother Bartolomeo kidnapped a red-haired girl. I quote from the pdf: “While she was also awakening a voice emerged from the buzz, it was that of the Supreme Father, who scolded them for the stupidity of having kidnapped a red-haired virgin, causing bad luck. And he continued: “I will end this dangerous tradition that has been going on for too many years, it will eventually cause serious problems with the inhabitants of Rimini. God wanted you to choose the wrong young lady to warn us of his discontent. This is an evil omen since the red hair is a symbol of the evil forces and bring misfortune. A confrontation right inside the walls of our sacred refuge. Go away! Bless it and take her away! This girl is not loved by God, and can never imitate the Virgin Mary.” 

So, even according to this legend red hair was something evil, or at least a bad omen. However, as we have seen in this blog, the Virgin Mary has been  described several times as red-haired, and paintings with a red-haired Jesus (and Mary) are countless. This dichotomy is very interesting and, at the moment, we don’t have an explanation for it.