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About National Straw Hat Day

"Straw Hat Day occurs on the second Saturday in May each year since 1916. This is an Ivy League tradition that began at the University of Pennsylvania. Straw Hat day is the official ushering in of the summer wardrobe and a bit of rebellion against the status quo. The traditions of Straw Hat Day are incorporated into the present day passing of the class from graduating seniors to the junior class at the University of Pennsylvania. The day continues to stand on its own whilst at Penn, “Hey Day” is often celebrated at the end of April or in the first week of May.

According to the University’s site, this is what it is all about:

“For many years prior to origination of Hey Day in 1916, the principal spring celebration for undergraduates was ""Straw Hat Day"". Straw Hat Day was the second Saturday of each May, the special event of the day being a baseball game with Princeton.

At the time, there was strict observance of the tradition that a higher education deserves appropriate dress. Thus, when students went to baseball games, they generally wore tailored suits, shirts with collars and neckties, garters and hats.

On Straw Hat Day, the usual felt hats were laid aside and the students appeared in straw hats.

Straw Hat Day was so widely accepted in Philadelphia that no one in the city dared wear a straw hat before that day."

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