Hats On for Easter

Any excuse to don a hat, and Easter is the perfect time to do so. I recall making Easter bonnets in primary school years ago, but where does this seemingly strange tradition come from?

A fine new Easter hat is the last remnant of the old tradition of wearing new clothes at Easter time. Celebrating the renewal of the year, and the promise of spiritual renewal and redemption, the origins of Easter parades lie in Christian culture: processions in remembrance of Palm Sunday, and Christ’s death on the cross.

Easter Parade in New York, late 19th CenturyThe Easter parades began on Fifth Avenue in New York in the 1870s as an after-church cultural event for the well-to-do. They would stroll from their own church to others to see the floral displays in other churches – and to be seen by their peers of course. It was also a prime opportunity for the poorer and middle classes to take in the latest fashions. 

Nowadays, purely decorative hats are no longer commonly worn except for special occasions such as the races, and it can be difficult to purchase a delicious little confection, unless one has the funds to afford the services of a milliner. I am constantly disappointed in the wares on offer in boutiques and department stores: this winter the only colours I am seeing is brown, black and cream, and usually only berets or fedoras. So boring!

Lucky there is eBay and Etsy for vintage indulgences delightful enough for a traditional Easter. And hats aren’t as fattening as chocolate.

Happy Easter!