# What's the origin of the Santa hat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 25, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929 "2010-11-25T23:45:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/21 "2010-11-26T17:58:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > If there is fur showing on the outside, it’s either fur-lined with the bottom turned up or it is not fur-lined and the fur is decorative. Decorative fur is not simply to simulate a fur lining. Wolverine fur is used to trim parka hoods because ice won’t build up on it, yet the hood is not lined with fur. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/22 "2010-11-26T17:59:37Z")
I’m just asking where this style of hat was prevalent. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/23 "2010-11-26T18:09:58Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’m just asking where this style of hat was prevalent. Quite obviously at the North Pole. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/24 "2010-11-26T18:22:55Z")
[In this discussion, it’s asserted it was Germany](http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/523539) ---
**Author:** ![Anaglyph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anaglyph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaglyph)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/25 "2010-11-26T18:23:24Z")
In Europe, Santa Claus traditionally wears a bishops habit and miter ([Sinter Klaas, Holland](http://www.google.ch/images?hl=en&biw=1323&bih=1063&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Sinterklaas&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=)) or a monks habit with a hood ([Samichlaus, Switzerland](http://www.google.ch/images?hl=en&biw=1323&bih=1063&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Samichlaus&aq=f&aqi=g3&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=)) and is accompanied by a helper in a plain brown habit with hood ([Schmutzli](http://www.google.ch/images?hl=en&biw=1323&bih=1063&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Schmutzli&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=)) and a donkey. The red pants, jacket and floppy hat is the American variation of the theme ([Santa Claus, USA](http://www.google.ch/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1323&bih=1063&q=Santa+Claus&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=)) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/26 "2010-11-26T18:26:27Z")
> [@Anaglyph](#): > > In Europe, Santa Claus traditionally wears a bishops habit and miter ([Sinter Klaas, Holland](http://www.google.ch/images?hl=en&biw=1323&bih=1063&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Sinterklaas&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=)) or a monks habit with a hood ([Samichlaus, Switzerland](http://www.google.ch/images?hl=en&biw=1323&bih=1063&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Samichlaus&aq=f&aqi=g3&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=)) and is accompanied by a helper in a plain brown habit with hood ([Schmutzli](http://www.google.ch/images?hl=en&biw=1323&bih=1063&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Schmutzli&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=)) and a donkey. The red pants, jacket and floppy hat is the American variation of the theme ([Santa Claus, USA](http://www.google.ch/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1323&bih=1063&q=Santa+Claus&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=)) That’s one [scary-ass Santa Claus!](http://www.nikolaus-kuesnacht.ch/images/schmutzli01.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/27 "2010-11-26T18:39:52Z")
I have to apologise to everyone. I seem to be unable to make myself clear lately. I’m not interested in the origin of Santa Claus, nor of the origin of his modern depiction. I only mentioned him because he wears a style of hat that is closely associated with him. When I asked the question I thought that my implication was that I was asking about the origin of a certain style of headwear, and that my allusion to Santa Claus was merely a way of describing the style of cap without having to go into detail (which I did later anyway). Clearly I failed. I appreciate the link to the Phrygian cap, which seems similar. The suggestion that the specific style of cap originated in Germany sounds plausible. But until I can figure out a way to ask my question that does not produce answers that involve Santa Claus or Christmas, it sounds as if the question is unanswerable. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/28 "2010-11-26T18:42:40Z")
Bah, humbug. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/29 "2010-11-26T19:48:03Z")
Caps, hoods and cowls, often with long pointy ends hanging down in the back were fairly standard in late medieval Northern Europe. There was a somewhat well known find of clothing including such garments in Greenland, supposedly dated to the early 16th Century and thus evidence of surviving Norse communities. If I can find a picture somewhere I’ll come back with a link. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/30 "2010-11-27T01:30:02Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I have to apologise to everyone. I seem to be unable to make myself clear lately. > > I’m not interested in the origin of Santa Claus, nor of the origin of his modern depiction. I only mentioned him because he wears a style of hat that is closely associated with him. When I asked the question I thought that my implication was that I was asking about the origin of a certain style of headwear, and that my allusion to Santa Claus was merely a way of describing the style of cap without having to go into detail (which I did later anyway). Clearly I failed. > > I appreciate the link to the Phrygian cap, which seems similar. The suggestion that the specific style of cap originated in Germany sounds plausible. But until I can figure out a way to ask my question that does not produce answers that involve Santa Claus or Christmas, it sounds as if the question is unanswerable. I think it’s from a Thomas Nast drawing from the 1800s. Merry Christmas! hh ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/31 "2010-11-27T01:31:26Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I have to apologise to everyone. I seem to be unable to make myself clear lately. > > I’m not interested in the origin of Santa Claus, nor of the origin of his modern depiction. I only mentioned him because he wears a style of hat that is closely associated with him. When I asked the question I thought that my implication was that I was asking about the origin of a certain style of headwear, and that my allusion to Santa Claus was merely a way of describing the style of cap without having to go into detail (which I did later anyway). Clearly I failed. > > I appreciate the link to the Phrygian cap, which seems similar. The suggestion that the specific style of cap originated in Germany sounds plausible. But until I can figure out a way to ask my question that does not produce answers that involve Santa Claus or Christmas, it sounds as if the question is unanswerable. I think it’s from a Thomas Nast drawing from the 1800s. Merry Christmas!😃 hh ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/32 "2010-11-27T02:08:38Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > That’s one [scary-ass Santa Claus!](http://www.nikolaus-kuesnacht.ch/images/schmutzli01.jpg) Well then imagine him with[six to eight black men](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbJpRLhaSqs). If your bad, they’ll stuff you in a bag, kick you and whip you with a switch. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929/33 "2010-11-28T08:58:38Z")
It sounded to me more like you were asking about the hat, and why Santa wore it. Because, obviously, such a simple design is likely to have been created multiple times in various cultures. Unless it was specifically historically linked to Santa, we could just say the origin was some caveman who sewed a conical hat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-santa-hat/561929.md?page=1)