Pom-pom hats are a winter staple, but why did we all decide to walk around with bobbles on our head, and where does its curious name come from?

Far from a cute fashion statement, pom-poms have historically been worn in battle, used for protection, and even denoted marital status.

Traced as far back as 790 AD by historians, here’s how the humble pom-pom developed from a historical symbol to a modern day trend. 

One of the earliest records of the pom-pom is from the Viking era in the 8th Century from the discovery of a small statue of the Norse god Freyr, the god of peace, fertility, rain, and sunshine, wearing a hat or helmet adorned with a pom-pom.

Discovered on a farm in Sweden in 1904, it’s unclear whether they were purely decorative, or they served another purpose like denoting status, as it has since been used in the military. 

Napoleon’s infantry used pom-poms to denote battalions and ranks, which helped distinguish soldiers amidst the chaos of battle. 

Traditional hats in the Scottish Highlands known as balmorals or glengarries also had a pom-pom or ‘toorie’ to identify the wearer’s regiment, and by the 18^th Century the floppy beret topped became a Scottish icon.  

From the battlefield to boats, French sailors also added pom-poms to their hats to avoid banging their head on low ceilings in rough seas.

In South America, they were even worn by indigenous cultures on clothing and headwear to signify marital status.

Roman Catholic clergy have also long worn birettas with pom-poms in varying colours to indicate rank and job. 

In the 20th century during the Great Depression, pom-poms transitioned from function to fashion, as they became popular among knitters who used leftover yarn to to add a touch of flair to hats. 

The reduplication of pom pom isn’t as random as it may seem; it’s believed to have come from the French ‘pompon’ which means bobble, or small ball of fabric, which could be explained by its use in the French military.