Abstract: A red light fluorescent material is disclosed which contains simultaneously phosphorus and at least one alkaline earth metal selected from among magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium, each in an amount in the range of from 10.sup.-6 to 10.sup.-3 mol per mol of a europium-activated rare earth oxide fluorescent material substantially represented by the general formula, (L.sub.1-x Eu.sub.x).sub.2 O.sub.3, (wherein L stands for at least one element selected from among rare earth elements and x for a numerical value in the range of 0.01.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.20). This red light fluorescent material possesses the nature of manifesting high initial luminescent brightness (efficiency) and entailing only slight decline of efficiency during the lighting of lamp. A fluorescent lamp has a fluorescent material layer formed as deposited on the inner wall surface of a glass tube and containing as at least a red luminescent component the fluorescent material mentioned above.