The red rug is a cultural symbol that has been around for centuries. The red hand-knotted Persian carpet is the most iconic red carpet design, and it’s something that most people have either seen sold in stores, featured in museums or hotels, and portrayed in movies. But many other rugs in the world are red, such as Turkish kilims or Tibetan prayer mats. So let’s take a look at the meaning behind the infamous red rug.
What Is The History Behind Red Rugs?
The red rug has been around for centuries, and its meaning varies from culture to culture. The red color is often associated with power, wealth, energy, good luck, cheerfulness, or celebration in many cultures. In the west, it signifies royalty or grandeur of a high society home, while red is considered an auspicious symbol in China. In fact, red carpets are laid for honored guests, and red envelopes of money are given as gifts.
In some cultures, red is a traditional mourning color, signifying the blood spilled by those who have died in war or conflict. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, red symbolizes compassion, while red to Americans traditionally means love and passion.
However, the first real mention of red carpets is in a play written by an Ancient Greek Tragedian, Aeschylus, in 468 B.C. Other famous mentions of the red carpet include that it was laid out to welcome King Xerxes, ruler of the Persian Empire. It’s also noted that red carpets were used in ancient Rome and Persia to symbolize power.
What Styles Of Red Rugs Can You Find? One of the most iconic red rugs is a Persian rug, also known as an Oriental red carpet. These are hand-knotted and made by skilled artisans in Iran or Pakistan with intricate detail that can take months to complete. They typically have geometric patterns on them like diamonds, squares, hexagons, and octagons.
Another type of red carpet you might find would be Turkish kilims which were initially used for comfort while sitting on hardwood floors during cold weather. However, they became prized pieces for collectors when people began collecting antique floor coverings rather than using them out of necessity. Kilims come from Turkey’s nomadic tribes, who created them out of woven wool or silk threads with bold colors such as reds, blues, greens, browns, and of course, red.
There are also Tibetan prayer mats that come from the Himalayan region in Eastern Asia that have red accents on a white background with symbols of Buddha depicted as well as other designs like animals, trees, and flowers. These red rugs are usually made out of wool or cotton fabric. It’s clear that red carpets play a significant role in many cultures and societies.
Where Can I Purchase Red Rugs?
You can find red rugs at any reputable rug store like Rug Source. These red carpets are often handmade and come from various cultures with many different styles, colors, patterns, symbolism, and meanings that make them a great addition to your home or office space. Head to rugsource.com to find the perfect red rug for your home.
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