Why Do Winter Hats Have Pom-Poms? The Real History
Ever wonder why winter hats have pom-poms on them? True they're fashionable but they actually had a purpose.
Quick Reference: Why Do Winter Hats Have Pom-Poms?
- The short answer: the pom-pom started as a practical and symbolic feature, not just decoration.
- The name: “pom-pom” comes from the French word “pompon,” meaning a small ball of fabric.
- Oldest trace: bobbles on hats date back to about 790 AD in Viking-era Scandinavia.
- At sea: French sailors wore them so they would not bang their heads on low ship ceilings in rough water.
- In uniform: armies and clergy used colored pom-poms to mark regiment, rank, and role.
- Today: the pom-pom is mostly a touch of flair on a warm winter hat.
Why do winter hats have pom-poms? That fluffy ball on top looks like pure decoration, but it began as something more useful. Winter hats come in all sizes, shapes, and colors, and many still carry the familiar pom-pom up top. People have worn warm hats for centuries, and the bobble has gone along for the ride, picking up a surprising history of jobs and meanings on the way. Here is where the pom-pom came from and how it ended up on your knit cap.
More Than a Cute Ball of Fabric
Today the pom-pom on top of a winter hat reads as a cosmetic touch, a bit of fashion and nothing more. Its history runs back centuries, though, and there are several surprising theories about where it came from. The story is less about style and more about practicality, identity, and old tradition.
The word itself points to France. “Pom-pom” is believed to come from the French word “pompon,” which means “bobble” or “small ball of fabric.” Historians have traced the habit of fixing bobbles to hats as far back as 790 AD in Scandinavia, during the Viking era. If you want the long version of the term’s roots, the entry on the pom-pom walks through its spread from military dress to everyday wear.
There may be an even older layer of meaning. A small statue of the Norse god Freyr, known as the god of peace, fertility, rain, and sunshine, was found wearing a hat or helmet topped with a pom-pom on a farm in Sweden in 1904. That discovery hints at a religious or cultural meaning behind the bobble. Either way, it is clear that pom-poms have adorned hats for a very long stretch of time.
A Historical Start
Believe it or not, this whimsical ball of fluff has real historical roots. Long before it was a winter accessory, the pom-pom did practical work and signaled who you were. Here is how it showed up across armies, churches, and ships:
- Napoleon’s infantry wore wooly bobbles to denote which regiment they belonged to.
- Hungarian cavalry regiments and Scottish Highland regiments also jumped on the bobble bandwagon to help distinguish rank.
- By the 18th Century, the floppy beret topped with a pom-pom became the most readily identifiable Scottish piece of clothing.
- In Rome, Roman Catholic clergy have worn pom-pom hats, called birettas, for ages, varying in color to indicate their rank and job.
- In South America, traditional garments of both men and women were adorned with differently colored pom-poms to signal their marital status.
- French sailors added them to their hats so they would not bang their heads on the low ceilings of the ship when the waters got rough.
Notice the through line: in nearly every case, the color or placement of the pom-pom carried a message. A glance told you a soldier’s regiment, a clergyman’s rank, or whether a person was married. The bobble was a kind of plain-sight code long before it was a craft-store finishing touch.
From Ships to Snow: The Practical Pom-Pom
The sailor story is the one most people remember, and it is worth slowing down on. On a ship in heavy seas, a deck pitches without warning, and the spaces below are cramped with low beams. A soft bobble on top of the cap gave a little cushion, so a sudden lurch into a doorway or a ceiling beam meant a bump on the wool instead of a knock on the skull. The French navy made these knit caps part of the look, and the pom-pom stuck around long after the practical reason faded.
That mix of function and flair is why the bobble traveled so well from the deck to the snowbank. It added a bit of warmth and bulk at the crown, it was cheap to make from leftover yarn, and it looked cheerful on a gray winter day. A hat that keeps the wind off your ears is the main event, and the pom-pom rode along as the easy extra.
Pom-Pom Popularity
During the Depression, the pom-pom trend flourished for everyday people and became a popular clothing accessory. Its rise was most likely tied to how cheap it was to accessorize and embellish clothing. A bit of spare yarn could brighten an old coat or a plain hat without costing much at a time when money was tight.
In the 1960s, celebrities like the late Michael Nesmith from the Monkees helped popularize the wooly hat topped with pom-poms. Nesmith frequently wore a bobble hat on the band’s TV program, which pushed the look further into the mainstream. Television did for the pom-pom hat what the uniform once did, putting it in front of millions and making it familiar.
Nowadays, pom-poms turn up on winter hats in every color, size, and material you can think of. We have grown more creative with the design, but the bobble seldom carries a deeper meaning now. It simply adds a bit of flair to your winter outfit. If you are heading out into the cold, our guide to when the first day of winter falls will tell you when the season truly begins, the long-range forecast will tell you how cold it may get, and a warm hat is one easy way to head off the early warning signs of hypothermia on a frigid day.
Why Do Winter Hats Have Pom-Poms: Frequently Asked Questions
Why do winter hats have pom-poms?
Winter hats have pom-poms partly for decoration and partly for older, practical reasons. French sailors wore bobbles so they would not bang their heads on low ship ceilings, and armies and clergy used colored pom-poms to mark regiment, rank, and role. Today the pom-pom is mostly a cheerful touch of flair.
Where does the word “pom-pom” come from?
“Pom-pom” is believed to come from the French word “pompon,” which means “bobble” or “small ball of fabric.” Historians have traced the habit of attaching bobbles to hats as far back as 790 AD in Scandinavia during the Viking era.
Did pom-poms on hats ever serve a real purpose?
Yes. French sailors added them so a sudden lurch in rough seas meant a bump on the wool instead of a knock on the head from low ship ceilings. Armies such as Napoleon’s infantry used wooly bobbles to denote their regiment, and Hungarian cavalry and Scottish Highland regiments used them to distinguish rank.
What is the oldest known pom-pom hat?
A small statue of the Norse god Freyr, found on a farm in Sweden in 1904, shows a hat or helmet topped with a pom-pom, and bobbles on hats trace back to about 790 AD in Viking-era Scandinavia. That suggests the pom-pom may have carried religious or cultural meaning long before it was a fashion choice.
Why are clergy hats topped with pom-poms?
In Rome, Roman Catholic clergy have long worn pom-pom hats called birettas. The colors vary to indicate the wearer’s rank and job, so the bobble worked as a clear, at-a-glance marker of role within the church.
When did pom-pom hats become a mainstream fashion trend?
The trend flourished during the Depression as a cheap way to brighten clothing, then surged again in the 1960s when celebrities like Michael Nesmith of the Monkees wore bobble hats on the band’s TV program. Do you have a favorite hat with a pom-pom? Tell us in the comments.
Natalie LaVolpe
Natalie LaVolpe is a freelance writer and former special education teacher. She is dedicated to healthy living through body and mind. She currently resides on Long Island, New York, with her husband, children, and dog.
- Natalie LaVolpe
- Natalie LaVolpe
- Natalie LaVolpe
- Natalie LaVolpe
protection from falling icicles.
The pom-pom serves as the easiest grab point to remove the hat while wearing gloves. It has a practical side which is much more important in modern day than the the historical side. However, the historical side is much more fascinating.
I read somewhere that the pom poms were also to help find people that have gotten submerged under the snow, it sticks out to help find the person
I have seen the Greek military wear Pom poms on the toes of their shoes when wearing their ceremonial dress.
Amazing this ball of fabric is so traditional. Thanks for sharing.
I’d like to make another suggestion for the purpose of the Pom-Pom. To cover the hole at the top if the maker used a cinch method for binding off. This would have left a hole and in order to make it warmer… close the hole with a Pom Pom. ???
Hi Barbara, that makes a lot of sense 😉
My favorite is powder pink with a pink matching pompom
Thanks Penny 🙂 that sounds like a pretty hat.