Wearing a hat is like having
a baby or a puppy;
Everyone stops to coo
and talk about it.
Louise Green

Hello to everyone here! Hats off! Today is National Hat Day – one of the most bizarre informal world holidays. Silly or elegant, serious or giant, awesome or functional ones, people wear hats for various reasons. To cover a head only? Come on, do you really think so? Wearing a hat depicted a social status of gentlemen and ladies in the past. It’s necessary to wear a hat on Sundays while attending a church (it concerns ladies mainly). A real gentleman couldn’t look right without wearing a top hat. Avery hat was a sign of respect. What hat should ladies wear to the races annually for the perfect racing outfit? – That is suggested to be probably the most important fashion point to think about. Why are hats required to be off inside or while playing of the National Anthem?  Would like to know more?

Well, National Hat Day is celebrated on January 15 in remembrance of the first top hat. In fact, an English gentleman named James Heatherington went out walking through the streets of London wearing a top hat on his head. Very soon, he was seen, and a great crowd collected around him, who were talking shockingly among themselves. James Heatherington was immediately arrested by the police and accused of disturbing the public order. According to the testimony of a police officer, Heatherington’s hat seemed to be so awful, that “various women fainted, children began to cry and dogs started to bark”. James Heatherington caused a veritable furor. As a matter of fact, the invention of the top hat is credited to him.

Since a time of Middle Ages, removal of a hat is considered to be a sign of respect. Removing a hat in church showed respect for God. It didn’t concern ladies who must cover their heads, also as a sign of respect as well as a sign of their social status. This was reflected in many world cultures. Actually, young single Russian and Ukrainian ladies might wear a wreath or hair all down, while married women had to cover their heads with a shawl. Today women have to cover their heads when visiting a church, no matter single or married they are.