Learn More About Hats

Impress friends, family members and coworkers by sharing fun facts and tidbits of trivia related to National Hat Day. Try these on for size or find some other fun hat facts to share on the day:

• The tall, white hats that are worn by chefs (called “toques”) are meant to have 100 pleats. This number is supposed to represent the number of ways that an egg can be prepared. This special hat was meant to establish an understanding of hierarchy in the kitchen, so everyone would know who the head chef was just by glancing!
• Ever wonder why those black taxis in London are so tall? It’s not simply because it looked good or was necessary for engineering purposes. No, it’s much more practical than that. It’s because the black taxis were made so that a gentleman could get into a taxi without needing to take off his top hat.
• The phrase “mad as a hatter” has its origins in the way that felted hats were originally made. Hatmakers would use felt which often contained mercury, a toxic substance that can cause damage to the nervous system–including dementia, which made the hatters seem insane.
• Dunce hats, tall and pointy, were created by John Duns Scots. Their intention was the opposite of how they are known in modern times. They were made with the intention of creating wisdom and some people even thought they would connect the wearer to the gods. Later, however, they became associated with shaming and poor behavior.