| |
 | Chapter Guidelines |
| 2012 Outings |
| Past Outings |
| She who laughs...lasts |
| Butterfly Bios |
| Red Hat History, Customs, & Trends |
| Hat Tips |
 | HOME |
2/10 - Ida |
 |
PHOTO GALLERY |
|
|
RED HAT SOCIETY |
|
|
WHERE DO I FIND? |
Red Hat History, Customs, & Trends
|
|
The Titles - Begun by E.Q.M, Sue Ellen Cooper decreeing that she was "Queen Mother" & then later on "Exalted Queen Mother". Just an interesting way to make us sound more royal! There's Queen, Queen Mum, Her Royal Highness, Royal Diva, Dame, Grande Dame, Princess, Lady, Duchess, Empress, etc.
Reverse Color Day - Started by the F.Q.M. Linda, of the Sasscee Gals of Tucson, Arizona, which they refer to as "Au Contraire". At their monthly gathering, the ladies who have a birthday that falls in that month are allowed to wear a red outfit & purple hat so they will stand out. This chapter also dresses all in red in February to celebrate Valentine's Day! This colorful way of dressing has become known as "Reverse Day". Also some Queens will decree that at certain gatherings the members will reverse dress.
Reduation - The term RED-uation was coined by the MZ-TEA-Rious Ladies Chapter & their Queenette Di. It is a ceremony performed when a Pink Hat member turns the BIG 50 & Red-uates to now wear the official Red Hat.
Red Hat Society Day - April 25th is R.H.S. Day because E.Q.M. Sue Ellen’s founding chapter had their first meeting on that day in 1998. There are usually special gatherings all over the country on this day! In some small towns, the mayor will actually proclaim April 25th as “Red Hat Day” in their community.
Girlfriend’s Day - It is E.Q.M. Sue Ellen Cooper’s Birthday! (Secret! She turned 50 on July 22nd 1994!) Cards, Greetings & Gatherings - are shared by Red & Pink Hatters on this day!
Gatherings - Per our E.Q.M., the R.H.S. does not hold “meetings”...the word is too stuffy. (Meetings sound too orderly!) The words gathering, get-togethers, events or activities are preferred. Some chapters make up a “meeting” word that comes from the name of their chapter name. (RazZmaTazZ chapter in San Diego has TazZings.)
A Red Hat High Tea - The ceremony of the "High Tea" in this day and time is held in a somewhat higher regard. Appropriate dress is required, as well as proper manners. The tea utensils & place settings used for the "High Tea" must be fitting for such an occasion. The table is adorned with an elegant tablecloth & napkins. "High Tea" is choosing the appropriate tea for the occasion, letting it steep and then sip by sip enjoying it. This is usually accompanied with some wonderful scones, sandwiches and sumptuous sweet treats. It’s just lovely! Truly a tradition from another time. It makes the world go slower for a moment. "High Tea" is a ceremony of life, time and elegant living!
The Royal Wave - Borrowed from Queen Elizabeth of England & to be used to wave at our adoring public during parades, etc. or to acknowledge gawkers as we stroll by! Cup your hand, fingers up & swivel yourwrist from side to side with grace & elegance! (Like you’re screwing in a light bulb.)
MMM - Missionaries to the Matriarchal Masses... This is the term used to describe all Red & Pink Hatter’s who spread the word about the R.H.S. to their fellow sisters who are not in the R.H.S. Hatters spread the word by chatting, by cards, T-shirts, license plates, window & bumper stickers, web sites, R.H.S. brochures, etc.
Brim Brushing - We hatters love to hug, but with those wonderful big gaudy hats, it can be hard to do. So we brim brush! Reach out to hug your fellow hatter gently, only allowing your hat brims to touch. Air Kissing or A Hollywood Kiss Kiss is a perfect accompaniment to Brim Brushing!
Feathers - This began with our E.Q. M. Sue Ellen, taken from the Disney "Dumbo" story. Dumbo is given a feather by his friends, & Dumbo thinks the feather is what gives him the ability to fly. Of course, he later finds out he doesn't need the feather to soar. So our E.Q.M. gives each new chapter charter a red & purple feather to say, "I know your ready to come out & play with us, & I'm here to encourage you to set your hearts & imaginations free". The feathers have also been used to stand for Love/Red and Hugs/Purple.
Taking part in the London New Year Parade 2006, a couple of members of the audience commented that my boa was moulting. I began to hand over the fallen feathers with the explanation that it wasn't moulting, this was how they bred. "And if you take it home and keep it warm, one day it will grow into a new boa just like this". How would you raise a boa from babyhood in captivity? And what is the correct term for a baby boa anyway? (Puppy? Cub? Larva? ... ) Jenny. First Lady of Frivolity: Daft Old Bats Bedfordshire & Buckinghamshire, England
Several years ago everyone had pet rocks so why not grow a boa? You may have hit on something big! I save the feathers from my boas and send them in cards as "hugs". Maybe the recipients can use them to start their own boas! Tupper
I also save the "babies" in a special red box (their nest) and include them in cards and letters. Grandmomma
from Queen of the Dames The Crimson Crazies, Sth Auckland Chapter, Auckland, New Zealand. Baby Boas Does your boa molt, leaving feathers behind? Do you worry about these colorful leavings? To these boa sprinklings don’t be unkind Pass them along to tug on heartstrings. Collect those baby boas very carefully Put them in a nest and keep them warm Passing them on brings great glee They are really cute and add great charm. In a hat box, baby boas stay nice and safe They truly do start to multiply Cute little babes, not a scraggly waif Add them to jewelry, hats to beautify. Dumbo held tight to the legendary feather Red Hatters know boa feathered magic Mail them to a friend in a letter Let your inner child play, that’s the trick. Tend your baby boa with motherly care Fluff them, cuddle them, give them a name They give your life a new flair With little feathers, your youth reclaim. Pick up those baby boas when they fall Tend to them, they will bring you joy Red & Purple feathers hold the world enthrall Keeping the spirit from Boston to St. Croix. © 2006 Barbara Witzell, Queen RazZ
Red Sashes - Started as a way to display our royal names, along with the vast collection of pins that Red & Pink Hat Ladies have collected. Copied after the "Queen of England's" Red Sash/Banner that she wears. It's just another ritual of ours to display more pomp & circumstance!
Ding Dongs - Because of Audacious Queen Rosie’s birthday, The Rosie Hattitude Chapter (especially Mother Nurture~Rita Harrris, who is now a Red Hat Angel in Heaven), decreed that the Hostess Ding Dong would forever more be their official birthday confection & a number of other chapters have adopted the yummy dessert also. Some chapters use the Dolly Madison Red Zinger cake as their official dessert. Tie each individual packaged cake with red and purple ribbon and stack them on a plate to make a towering cake.
Bubbles - Blown by Red & Pink Hatters at gatherings for celebration, in place of applause or just because we want to!
Ruby RedHat - Official mascot of the R.H.S. She represents the spirit of the little girl who is alive & well inside each of us!
Hattitude - The proper “attitude” with a Hat!
HatQuarters - The head office of the Red Hat Society in Fullerton, California where our E.Q.M. and team works and plays!
Dessert First - Since the RHS chapters gather for fun, frolic & laughter, it only makes sense that the scrumptious dessert should be eaten first! After all, we deserve it!
Official flower of the RHS (written in the Friday Broadcast by Sue Ellen Cooper on April 8, 2005): Debbie Miller, Queen-in-Waiting of the Mad Red Hatters of Covina (California) is getting inspired to organize and beautify her garden. “...I have discovered what the Red Hat Society [official] flower should be...drum roll please...The Drama Queen Poppy...Now, the name alone is worthy of our fabulous gaggle of colorful gals, but get this...it combines RED AND PURPLE IN ONE FLOWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!” (The number of exclamation points is accurate. This woman is truly excited.) Debbie adds that she has been inspired to plant her entire garden with red and purple blooms.
Check for the most gorgeous, ruffled creation you have ever seen. How could we possibly do anything but proclaim the Drama Queen Poppy the official flower of the Red Hat Society? Of course poppies probably don’t grow in every climate, so we will probably have to add some other “official” flowers so that we will all have equal opportunity to have them in our yards, should we wish to.
Chapter Toast
We are the Red Hat Society Ladies of The Desert.
We are Royal, We are 50!
We salute Old Friends
And Friends Who are Old.
May our Friendship stay forever young. High Purple Queen, Sandy
The Royal Ladies of the Desert (Las Vegas, NV)
Red Hat Friendship Recipe
Take a generous helping of Red Hat Spirit,
Add in two measures of Purple Passion,
Mix with a heaping portion of Laughter,
And stir together with a spoon of Hattitude.
Add a zesty dash of Zaniness,
Sprinkle on Caring and Sharing.
Place it all in the gloved hands of Red & Pink Hatted Sisters.
Bake in an unbreakable dish of Friendship,
In a warm and Inviting Red Hat Gathering.
Garnish with Kazoos and Feathers.
Enjoy!
Unlimited Servings.
By Queen Rose of the "Purple Personalities in Red Hats" Chapter
