The red door

I like red doors. A red door adds class and seems to dress up what might otherwise be a plain-looking house. A red door draws your attention to the door and says, "Come see what other surprises await you."

What else does a red door say? Googling, as always, turns up a long list of possibilities:

• In early America, a red door was a sign of welcome to passing travelers.
• Some say a red door was a sign of a safe house on the Underground Railroad.
• In China, many doors are painted with a fresh coat of red just before Chinese New Year to invite good luck and happiness.
• In Ireland, a red door is supposed to ward off ghosts and evil spirits.
• Old Catholic churches used red doors to remind parishioners of Christ’s blood and that it was a place free from evil.
• In Scotland, homeowners would paint their front door red to signify that they had paid off their mortgage.
• And my personal favorite — Albert Einstein painted his door red because he couldn't recognize his house without it.