National Hat Day: Sometimes made the identity of slaves and sometimes of the rich, companion of every season, summer and winter, maintains body temperature

Last Updated:January 15, 2025, 12:01 IST

Explainer- While people often wear woolen caps to protect themselves from cold, caps are also worn in summer to get relief from the sun. Players also play wearing caps. Hats have always been a part of the wardrobe. As stylish as this…read more

Wearing a hat is very common. There are many types of hats for every season and occasion. The cap for vacation mood is colourful, whereas the summer cap is light coloured. In winter, styling looks incomplete without a hat. Hat and cap are called Topi in Hindi. But cap is just a type of hat. 15 January To National Hat Day Is celebrated. Hats are worn everywhere in the world. Be it a playground or a political arena, a cap is definitely visible.

The hat is 5300 years old
The trend of wearing caps started from the Bronze Age. In 1991, two tourists found a mummy on a glacier between Austria and Italy. Scientists named it Otzi Iceman. This mummy is 5300 years old. This mom was wearing a bear skin cap with a chin strap. This cap looks like a Russian fur cap. The Royal Guards of the British Crown also wear bearskin caps. People also wore hats in ancient Egypt. Due to the heat, he used to shave his hair and wear a hat made of straw to keep his head cool.

slaves became recognized
The triangular shaped hat that is worn today on the occasion of Christmas was once made to identify slaves. In ancient Rome and Greece, slaves used to wear this type of cap. The skull cap later became a symbol of freedom against monarchy during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution.

Mushroom cap was designed in Rome to give a stylish look to women (Image-Canva)

The rich started wearing hats
In the 16th century, hats began to be considered a status symbol of the rich. The protruding part of the hat was created in ancient Greece. Earlier, only men wore hats and women used to wear headscarves. But gradually hats started adorning the heads of women. In the 19th century, things like ribbons, flowers, feathers started decorating women’s hats. Rich people used to wear hats especially during horse racing.

British royal family famous for hats
All the women belonging to the royal family including Queen Elizabeth, Diana, Kate Middleton are seen wearing hats on every special occasion. In fact, wearing a hat is not only a status symbol but also shows British royal etiquettes. Wearing a hat is a tradition of the royal family. It is worn during weddings, horse riding and in ceremonies related to the country. In a BBC article, etiquette tutor William Handson had told that till 1950, it was not considered good for women to have their hair visible in public, hence the women of the royal family always covered their heads with hats.

Cap is the favorite of celebrities
Nowadays, most of the celebrities are seen wearing caps sometimes in airport look and sometimes during workout look. But in Bollywood only Devanand is known for his hat. The dark colored or check printed paperboy cap was Devanand’s signature style. He was seen wearing a cap on his head and a scarf around his neck at every event. His unique style made him different from other actors. A paperboy cap is a flat cap whose short brim is turned outwards. This cap is made of wool or cotton.

wear a hat according to the occasion
Stylist Nisha Kapoor says that there are many types of caps. Ascot cap is a men’s cap which is a flat cap. This cap is often worn by elderly people. It is thick and made of wool. It is worn with a blazer in winters. Baseball caps are soft. This is best to avoid sun in summer. It is worn on casual wear. The bowler cap is round and hard. It is paired with formal dresses. Boontail is a cotton hat which can be worn on vacation. Boys can wear it with capri pants and girls with beach wear. The most famous American cowboy hat in the world is worn with long boots and trousers. It is often worn while horse riding. Knitted caps are made from wool knitting. This cap is often worn in winter.

Players wear baseball or cricket caps during a cricket match (Image-Canva)

farmer’s favorite hat
China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Bhutan, Philippines, Myanmar and Cambodia may be different countries but the hats of the farmers here are similar. Farmers in Asia wear conical hats while working in the fields. It is also called sun hat. It is made from bamboo. This cap protects the farmers from strong sunlight and rain. In Vietnam this hat is included in the national costume.

Benefits of wearing a hat
Hat regulates body temperature. In summer, it protects the head from the sun, thereby keeping the body temperature cool, while in winter, it keeps the head warm, thereby keeping the body warm. By wearing a hat in summer, the UV range of the sun does not harm the face, thus sun burn can be avoided. Hair and eyes are also protected by the cap. Hats not only look fashionable but they also hide bad hairstyles.

hat can cause headache
The cap should always be of the size of your head. Its size is measured in the roundness above the ear. If the cap is tight then it affects blood circulation. Headache can also occur due to pressure on the head. When sweating, the cap should be removed so that air can reach the head and infection remains away.