# Hat Manners -can Ya Help A Brother Out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 4, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473 "2005-11-04T14:15:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BIGRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@BIGRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIGRC)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/1 "2005-11-04T14:15:10Z")
Does Anyone Know Where The Manner Rule Of Taking One’s Hat Off Once Inside A Building Originated. I Am A School Teacher And Would Be Very Appreciative If You Could Help Me Out. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/2 "2005-11-04T14:31:09Z")
According to [Emily Post](http://www.emilypost.com/ask_us/question_archive.htm): > [@](#): > > Basically, hats are removed when going indoors as a measure of respect. Therefore, caps and hats should be removed when entering a home (which includes while eating at the table), when entering a place of religion, or when going to a restaurant. When entering a store or other “public area” like a train station, the hat or cap may remain on. This applies to baseball caps worn by men or women. Hats and caps are always removed for the Pledge of Allegiance or the National Anthem. and > [@](#): > > Hat traditions and manners may have originated in medieval times when knights lifted their face guard to show who they were, or in the days of the cowboys when a hat was lifted and removed to show there was no weapon hidden underneath. It became a sign of respect to others that has always remained. I hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/3 "2005-11-04T14:47:40Z")
I think the original point was that hats were considered [outdoor clothing](http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/Clothes%20Articles/etiquette_for_hats_and_caps.htm). You would no more keep your hat on indoors than you would carry your open umbrella into the living room. > [@](#): > > Hats are worn less now, but at the turn of the 20th century, all adults wore hats whenever they left the house. It was a matter of good personal hygiene, since hats were a protection from industrial dirt. > > Hats are removed when inside, except for places that are akin to public streets, like lobbies, corridors, and crowded elevators (non-residential). In a public building (where there are no apartments) the elevator is considered a public area. > > You may choose to remove your hat in a public elevator, but in the presence of a lady your hat must be removed. Do click the link and read the full article, if only for the sake of the Dr. Seuss cartoon about the International Hat-Doffing Rules Committee revising the rule dealing with “the etiquette of doffing a top hat while carrying a cane, an umbrella, a bust of Catullus and a watermelon”. 🙂 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/4 "2005-11-04T14:49:38Z")
some quick googling threw up conflicting theories: > [@](#): > > Hats are themselves status symbols and keeping one on or taking it off is to do with deference and precedence. In early modern fights, the hat (or the > wig) was often the first thing to attack and trample in the mud! In the 17th > century men generally retained their hats in the house unless the > householder was present and of definititly higher status and > [@](#): > > Religion is the likeliest source. Early Christians > were used to rules concerning headgear (which > must be worn by Jews at worship.) Mediaeval > Christians lived when there was serious competition > between church and feudal authorities for supremacy. > Charlemagne and contemporaries worked out a > modus vivendi that worked OK (roughly). > > In church ceremonies, the only people who wore > headgear in churches were: > (a) ecclesiastics wearing their uniform (skullcap, mitre etc.) > (b) kings wearing their crowns > © soldiers on duty wearing their helmets etc. > > Everyone else had to uncover as a sign of respect > for the presence of God. But Christian doctrine > asserted God was everywhere . . . I was always under the impression that it was a formalised way of showing submission to the head of the household and acceptance of their rules, in the same way that people were expected to kneel/bow/tug their forelock when encountering someone of higher rank. This evolved from ancient times (when it basically meant “Don’t worry, I won’t challenge your authority over your own house”) into modern politeness (“I won’t insult you by keeping my hat on in your house”). Same deal with standing up when someone enters a room- in the old days guests stood until the host made clear they were welcome by asking them to sit. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/5 "2005-11-04T14:59:16Z")
I posted an answer in your [url=“[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343149](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343149)”[other thread on the same subject. Basically, (men’s) hats are taken off indoors because they’re outdoor clothing. Ladies’ hats that are meant to decoratively coordinate with their outfits stay on indoors. (Baseball caps and other traditionally male headgear do not, even when worn by women.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/6 "2005-11-04T17:01:46Z")
I take off my fedora when I arrive at my cubicle, but not in the common vestibule and hallways of my employer’s facility. Am I a Good Slant or a Bad Slant for doing so? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/7 "2005-11-04T17:05:21Z")
> [@Mr. Slant](#): > > I take off my fedora when I arrive at my cubicle, but not in the common vestibule and hallways of my employer’s facility. > Am I a Good Slant or a Bad Slant for doing so? Miss Manners said (sorry, no online cite, she does not provide an archive) that hats should be removed in a home, or in an elevator when ladies are present. She also said that hats are always OK outdoors, and also in public areas of buildings such as a lobby, which is tantamount to being outdoors, etiquette-wise. IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/8 "2005-11-04T17:06:55Z")
Just like to add that when I was growing up… it was flat out against the dress code to wear hats to school. I never EVER got why. Also… Im still miffed about it. I mean… not that I would wear a hat daily… Im not the type… but still. the freedom is taken away. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/9 "2005-11-04T17:10:16Z")
Good **Slant**! Good **Slant**! **Slant** want a cookie? 🙂 Since I screwed up my link to the other thread, I’ll just repost my comments here: > [@Kimstu](#): > > I think the original point was that hats were considered [outdoor clothing](http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/Clothes%20Articles/etiquette_for_hats_and_caps.htm). You would no more keep your hat on indoors than you would carry your open umbrella into the living room. > > > [@](#): > > > > Hats are worn less now, but at the turn of the 20th century, all adults wore hats whenever they left the house. It was a matter of good personal hygiene, since hats were a protection from industrial dirt. > > > > Hats are removed when inside, except for places that are akin to public streets, like lobbies, corridors, and crowded elevators (non-residential). In a public building (where there are no apartments) the elevator is considered a public area. > > > > You may choose to remove your hat in a public elevator, but in the presence of a lady your hat must be removed. > > Do click the link and read the full article, if only for the sake of the Dr. Seuss cartoon about the International Hat-Doffing Rules Committee revising the rule dealing with “the etiquette of doffing a top hat while carrying a cane, an umbrella, a bust of Catullus and a watermelon”. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/10 "2005-11-04T17:58:23Z")
I always thought the hat-doffing rule and the umbrella-folding rule came from the same source: practicality. Either of these items took up extra space when in use, and it was easy to knock things off shelves, hit people, etc, with them. So the polite thign was to fold the umbrella and remove the hat. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/11 "2005-11-04T18:40:41Z")
I merged two duplicate threads, in case anyone was wondering. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/12 "2005-11-04T19:09:43Z")
In olden times, a gentleman would tip (briefly lift) his hat to a lady whether he knew her or not. (Nowadays, this gesture is so unusual as to seem really, really gallant.) The gesture decayed to simply touching the brim of the hat, and then to no tipping at all. Cowboy-hat-wearing guys, it is said, rarely take their hats off anywhere, because it’s rare to find a hatrack or any suitable place to put the hat. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-manners-can-ya-help-a-brother-out/329473/13 "2005-11-04T19:14:35Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Good **Slant**! Good **Slant**! **Slant** want a cookie? 🙂 > > Since I screwed up my link to the other thread, I’ll just repost my comments here: Hmmmmmmmmmm. Cooooookie.