"Red wings" is a colloquial term for the act of performing cunnilingus on a woman while she is having her menstrual period. The term originates from the idea that her partner's bloody lips and face resemble a red bird’s wings after they perform cunnilingus on her.
A person who performs oral sex on a woman during her period is also said to have earned their "red wings." The term originated amongst the Hells Angels but has since gained popularity. Less commonly, a person is said to have earned their red wings after engaging in any kind of sexual activity with a menstruating woman.
More About Red Wings
The author Hunter S. Thompson is believed to have made the first public mention of red wings in his 1966 book, “Hells Angels, A Strange and Terrible Saga.” In the book, Thompson discusses the different adornments the gang members used to differentiate themselves from other members of society. To gain red wings was seen as a rite of passage.
The practice of engaging in oral sex during menstruation is mentioned in ancient teachings including Tantra, but as menstruation was considered holy, many of these texts encourage avoidance of sexual contact during these times. Traditional folklore suggests that once a man has earned his red wings, he will be tied to that woman for life.
While the practice of red wings is rarely written about, it is an act that some couples engage in. It’s believed to signify a partner's complete acceptance of their female counterpart's sexuality in all its glory. Many people are disgusted by menstrual blood, but those who earn their red wings find themselves reconnected to a more animalistic side of their nature.
A person with menophilia, a fetish in which one becomes aroused by menstruating women, is likely to want to earn their red wings.
