I Love Pom-pom Beanies

Cold weather brings out colorful winter accoutrements. Fashionable bubble jackets, finger cut out gloves, brilliant scarves and pompom beanies adorn wearers on sidewalks, at shopping centers and in local grocery stores. It is the pompom, those bright-colored balls on hats, that mostly catch the eye. Where did this style come from? Hint, pompom in French is pompon, and loosely means a puff of fabric in a round shape. Fur, wool, poly-blend fleece, feathers, or glittery yarn are chosen materials for making them. But the furry orb on top of the beanie did not originate in France.

 According to historians, the pompom’s hat origins go way back, to perhaps the Scandinavian Vikings. In 1904, on a farm in Sweden, a statuette believed to be the Viking god Freyr, wore a hat or helmet with what appeared to be a pompom. The figurine’s discovery is fact, but the interpretation of its pompom is subjective. Regardless, it’s agreed, the easy-to-make decoration has been around a long time. Its functionality has varied, from coding to convenience. Napoleon’s army military uniform had hats with pompoms indicating different company infantries, Roman Catholic clergy wear pompom birettas, which distinguishes the orders, (Cardinals, Bishops, priests, deacons, and seminarians), and traditional men dress in Scotland have floppy hats, the Balmoral bonnet, which is topped with a red pompom. As a timesaver, the pompom lets the wearer remove the hat easily and quickly. A pull of the pompom and the hat is off, no need to untie straps or pins.

Today the pompom on the beanie is mostly decorative, giving a whimsical finished look. An economical embellishment, its use will continue. Placing them on sweaters, shoes, earrings, and tassels verify their appeal. These furry orbs have a long history, so next time you see someone wearing a beanie with a pompom, know it’s not simply a decoration, but a symbol of a long tradition.