INTERESTING HAT FACTS #6

http://www.hats4every-1.com

To “throw your hat in the ring” is an Americanism dating back to early 19^th century meaning to enter a contest, especially to declare your candidacy for political office. Originally, the “ring” was a boxing ring set up for fighting. Throwing your hat into the ring meant you would fight anyone in the crowd. In political history, the phrase was used around 1912 by Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt when he announced his intention to challenge William Howard Taft for the U.S. Presidency by stating “My hat’s in the ring”.

The decoration for a hatband is always displayed on the left side of the hat as the story goes because the Knights from the Middle Ages wore his lady’s feather on the left side of his hat to show his affection.

“Hold on to your hat” is an expression that originated in Scotland in the 18^th century. Scottish solders were told to keep their hats on in battle so they could recognize the enemy.

The three cornered hat, “Tricorn”, was the most common men’s hat in Europe for most of the 18^th century.

The phrase “a feather in your cap” is believed to come from the 17^th century and be related to the custom of sticking feathers in a soldiers cap to indicate the number of enemy he had slain.

One hat that is “distinctly American” is the broad brimmed Ten Gallon hat of the Southwest.

A ten gallon hat only holds three (3) quarts of water!

The original “cowboy hat” was manufactured by John Stetson and called the “Boss of the Plains”. It was a light weight, high crowned, wide-brimmed, waterproof, fur-felt hat. It had a rounded six inch crown with a flat seven inch brim. A plain hatband was fitted to allow for adjusting to the head size.