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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Sophie Roberts & Josh Luckhurst

Pom-poms on winter hats, Vikings and sailors have more in common than you think

Many winter hats have pom-poms attached to the top of them - but why?

It is believed that the embellishment was not always for fashionistas but to highlight rank in various departments over the course of history.

Mythological god Freyr has been depicted with head gear adorned with a pom-pom – as seen on a statuette found in Södermanland, Sweden - in 1904, while some believe that the added detail has been worn since the Viking era.

Elsewhere in Europe, clergymen wore caps called birettas in Rome that had different colour pom-poms to indicate which job they did.

Meanwhile, soldiers in the Scottish Highland regiments and Napoleon's infantry wore woolly bobbles on their uniforms.

According to The Outline, some experts believe the pom-poms helped to offer defence against the elements.

Sailors also wore pom-pom emblazed hats while at sea - thought to offer extra protect for their heads in tight-spaced areas.

Pom-poms became more mainstream during the Depression.

This is likely to be because they offered an affordable way to jazz-up basic outfits without spending a lot of money.

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