Do you know what the red, white and blue stripes on a barber pole represent?

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The multi-colored pole dates back to the days when barbers in Europe not only cut hair but also performed surgery and bloodletting. These sixteenth-century barber-surgeons advertised their trade by hanging their bandages and bloodletting bowl from a pole in front of their shops. Bloodied bandages became the red stripes of today's pole and clean bandages the white stripes. The blue stripes found on most American poles are probably just a patriotic touch, but some experts believe the blue may represent blood running through veins. Makes you scared of going to the barbers, huh?