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Hat Day
Jan 15
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
“Cock your hat—angles are attitudes.”
~ Frank Sinatra
They certainly are! From practical to symbolic, hats, cocked or not, have long captured our imagination. Some beloved styles include the Deerstalker, famously linked to Sherlock Holmes; Scotland’s Tam o' Shanter, Glengarry, and Balmoral Bonnet; and the elegant tartan turbans of Regency ladies (seen below), often adorned with plumes to enhance the height and drama of their Grecian-inspired evening attire. Hats not only protect from the elements but also historically signaled rank, affiliations, and social status in societies around the world.
Among these iconic designs, the Bicorne hat, or "cocked hat" (and its variant, the Tricorne), stands out as a symbol of military prestige. The Bicorne was a staple of late 1700s military uniforms, including those of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). During the Napoleonic period, it became the hallmark of generals and staff officers and remained a popular full-dress headdress until at least 1914. Its cousin, the triangular Tricorne, enjoyed widespread use not only among the aristocracy and military but also as common civilian dress. This 40 bar jig with its hat-shaped rounded and jaunty angles, with an ending chase, is a chance to dance with the hat of your choice. And for a cocked hat tribute cookie recipe to go along with the dance description, try the Danish treat, Napoleonshatte, marking Napoleon's famous bicorne hat, tastily recreate in pastry, marzipan, and dark chocolate! ❤️ 🎩 🍪
The Cocket Hat
The Bicorn hat – also known as the cocked hat, was a commonly adopted military uniform element, including those of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) during the late 1700s.
This style of hat is probably most associated with Napoleon Bonaparte, French Emperor and military leader. The style was replaced by the shako in the early 1800s.
Descended from the tricorne, the black-coloured bicorne originally had a rather broad brim, with the front and the rear halves turned up and pinned together (the shorter front brim was called "the cock" - hence "cocked hat" - and the longer rear brim was termed "the fan").
The term "to be knocked into a cocked hat" means to be soundly and swiftly defeated.
Ironically, this dance took its inspiration not from any of the more recognized hat styles but from the ubiquitous and outrageous costume Scottish party hat, complete with fright wig and tartan tam o'shanter!
For a classic hat recipe for the Danish Napoleonshatte (Napoleon hat cookies), click the picture below.
See below for a video of the dance performed by the Tay Dancers in 2015.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
