Straw Hats!

Having spent the last week in Florida, I can confirm that one needs to wear a straw hat to protect one's head and face from the sun's damaging rays. A wide-brimmed straw hat protects more, but any straw hat is better than not wearing one.

Straw hats have a rich history from the early Greeks to the Romans. Historians have traced their origins to the 16th century, and they gained popularity in the 17th and 18th centuries. Men started wearing straw hats around the 19th century as summer wear. Initially designed for tropical wear, the soft Panama straw hat became part of a man's informal summer attire. This cultural and historical significance adds a unique charm to the straw hat.

The straw hat represents liberation and symbolizes vacation. Its lightweight and breathable material makes it comfortable and shapeable to one's head. I have a straw hat that I purchased several years ago. I wear it in the pool, stuff it in my suitcase, and launder it; it still looks great! At least, I think so. However, I will replace the band next year, not because it's tattered but because I'm ready for a change.

Straw hats have evolved from simple styles to ornate styles to suit various occasions. While in Florida, I saw many straw hats at the beach, the pool, restaurants, shopping, and churches. Their versatility makes them a perfect choice for any sunny day, regardless of the activity. A straw hat is your best companion wherever you find yourself with the sun reflecting on your face.

I found these adorable straw hats for one dollar at the end of last season and decided to decorate them. I took fabric strips and glued them on the hat for a hatband. I added flowers, feathers, and beads for decorations. Each hat took me about five minutes, and the ladies who received them will have many years to enjoy, redecorate, or pass them along.

"The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night."

Psalm 121:5-6