April 25 – Red Hat Society Day

red hat society day

Red Hat Society Day is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE RED HAT DAY STEP-BY-STEP

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11/14/2024 01:30 am GMT

Red Hat Society Day is a festive occasion where women don their favorite red hats and enjoy a day of fun and celebration. One of the women who helped start this popular event is Sue Ellen Cooper, who bought a red hat as a birthday present for a friend and was inspired to create a group based on the joy and confidence that the hat brought to her friend’s life.

Since then, the Red Hat Society has grown to include thousands of women across the world who come together to laugh, make new friends, and honor the delightful quirkiness that comes with being a mature woman. Whether you’re a long-time member or a newcomer to the Red Hat Society, Red Hat Day is a perfect opportunity to embrace your inner goddess and revel in the company of like-minded women.

HISTORY OF RED HAT SOCIETY DAY

Red Hat Society Day is a celebration that has a rich history dating back to 1998. It all began when a woman named Sue Ellen Cooper gave a friend a red hat as a birthday gift, accompanied by a copy of the poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph.

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Jenny Joseph

The poem describes a woman who, upon reaching old age, wears purple clothing and a red hat as an act of rebellion against societal norms. Cooper and her friend began wearing red hats and purple outfits to social events, which eventually led to the creation of the Red Hat Society. Red Hat Society Day became an official holiday in 2002 and is celebrated on April 25th each year. It is a day for women to embrace their love for fashion, humor, and friendship. So, gather your best gal pals, don your favorite red hat, and seize the day!

100 Ways to Celebrate Red Hat Society Day

  1. Host a Red Hat Tea Party: Organize an elegant tea party with red hats, tea, and finger foods for members to enjoy together.
  2. Fashion a Red Hat Parade: Gather your group and parade through a local park or event space, proudly wearing your red and purple outfits.
  3. Create Personalized Red Hats: Provide materials to embellish or create unique red hats, showcasing personal style.
  4. Organize a Red Hat Society Picnic: Plan a themed outdoor picnic with red and purple decorations, food, and activities for a fun gathering.
  5. Red Hat Society Fashion Show: Host a fashion show where members showcase their best red hat outfits and accessories.
  6. Volunteer Together: Organize a group volunteering day at a local charity or community center while donning your signature red hats.
  7. Plan a Themed Potluck: Have members bring red-themed dishes and desserts for a potluck celebrating Red Hat Society Day.
  8. Craft Red Hat Themed Jewelry: Create custom red and purple jewelry pieces like necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
  9. Host a Red Hat Book Club Meeting: Choose a book to discuss and invite members for a fun, thoughtful discussion while wearing their red hats.
  10. Take a Red Hat Society Photo Shoot: Arrange a professional or casual photo shoot in red and purple attire to celebrate the occasion.
  11. Organize a Dance Party: Play favorite tunes and dance the day away with fellow members in a festive, red hat atmosphere.
  12. Go on a Wine Tasting Tour: Plan a wine tasting outing at a local vineyard or winery, wearing red hats to make it a celebratory event.
  13. Attend a Local Theater Show: Book tickets for a theater performance and attend together, proudly representing the Red Hat Society.
  14. Host a Craft Day: Organize a craft session where members make red and purple themed decorations, hats, or keepsakes.
  15. Plan a Red Hat Society Brunch: Arrange a special brunch at a local restaurant or member’s home, complete with red and purple tableware.
  16. Red Hat Society Trivia Game: Create a trivia game with questions about the Red Hat Society’s history and fun facts about members.
  17. Decorate Red Hat Society Cookies: Bake and decorate cookies in the shape of red hats or purple crowns for a sweet treat.
  18. Plan a Flower Arrangement Class: Take a flower arranging class and make floral centerpieces in red and purple hues.
  19. Take a Day Trip: Plan a group day trip to a nearby town, museum, or park for a fun Red Hat Society outing.
  20. Host a Karaoke Party: Sing your heart out with fellow members in a lighthearted karaoke session, wearing your red hats proudly.
  21. Organize a Red Hat Garden Party: Host a garden party with red and purple floral decorations, food, and games in a scenic outdoor setting.
  22. Write Letters to Members: Encourage members to write handwritten letters to each other, celebrating friendships made through the society.
  23. Host a Red Hat Luncheon: Plan a fancy luncheon at a local restaurant or home, complete with themed décor and outfits.
  24. Arrange a Hat Swap Party: Organize a hat exchange where members can swap or gift red hats, creating new looks for future events.
  25. Hold a Red Hat Storytelling Session: Share personal stories, adventures, and experiences of being part of the Red Hat Society with fellow members.
  26. Red Hat Bingo: Play a bingo game where the cards are customized with Red Hat-themed words and phrases.
  27. Hat Toss: Set up a hat toss game where players throw small bean bags or rings into red hats to score points.
  28. Pin the Hat on the Red Hatter: A fun twist on pin the tail on the donkey, where players try to pin a red hat onto a picture of a Red Hat Society member.
  29. Red Hat Trivia: Test members’ knowledge of the Red Hat Society and its history with a themed trivia quiz.
  30. Fashion Relay Race: Have teams race to dress up in red hats and purple outfits as quickly as possible and then pass the items to the next teammate.
  31. Guess the Hat: A guessing game where players feel different types of red hats while blindfolded and try to identify them.
  32. Red Hat Scavenger Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt where members search for items related to the Red Hat Society in a designated area.
  33. Red Hat Society Jeopardy: Create a Jeopardy-style game with categories related to Red Hat events, fashion, and member trivia.
  34. Musical Hats: Play musical chairs, but with hats! When the music stops, players must grab a red hat to stay in the game.
  35. Pass the Hat Storytime: Sit in a circle and pass around a red hat. Each person adds a sentence to a story until the hat completes the circle.
  36. Hat Drawing Contest: Provide paper and crayons or markers for members to draw their ideal red hat, and vote on the best one.
  37. Red Hat Charades: Play charades where the words and phrases acted out are related to the Red Hat Society or famous hats.
  38. Red Hat Pictionary: A drawing game where participants must sketch Red Hat-themed items while others guess what they are.
  39. Memory Hat Game: Place several red hats with different designs on a table. Give everyone a minute to observe them, then cover the hats and ask them to recall as many details as possible.
  40. Guess Who – Red Hat Edition: Play a “Guess Who” game with pictures of famous women who embody the spirit of the Red Hat Society.
  41. Red Hat Puzzle Race: Have teams compete to complete jigsaw puzzles featuring Red Hat Society themes as fast as possible.
  42. Find the Hidden Hat: Hide a red hat in the event space and give clues to players, who must find the hat first to win.
  43. Name That Hat: Display images of famous hats or characters known for wearing hats, and have players guess who or what the hat belongs to.
  44. Red Hat Fashion Show Challenge: In teams, members design outfits using craft supplies and must incorporate a red hat into the look.
  45. Story Hat Chain: Start a story related to the Red Hat Society and pass the hat to another member, who must continue the story.
  46. Hat Matching Game: Print images of different types of red hats and purple outfits. Players must match the right hat with the right outfit.
  47. Red Hat Word Search: Create a word search puzzle with Red Hat-related terms and challenge members to solve it the fastest.
  48. Themed Red Hat Board Game: Modify a classic board game like Monopoly or Clue to include Red Hat Society-themed tokens and goals.
  49. Balloon Pop with Hat Trivia: Write trivia questions inside balloons and have players pop them to answer Red Hat-themed trivia.
  50. Red Hat Relay: Teams must complete different challenges, such as putting on a red hat, before passing the hat to the next teammate in a relay race.
  51. Red Hat Fascinator: Create a stylish mini red hat fascinator using felt, ribbons, and feathers for a fun accessory.
  52. Red Hat Wreath: Make a wreath using red and purple fabrics, faux flowers, and ribbons to decorate your home or meeting space.
  53. Hand-Painted Red Hat Mugs: Decorate plain mugs with red and purple hat designs using ceramic paints for a personalized touch.
  54. Decorative Red Hat Centerpiece: Use a wide-brimmed red hat as a base and decorate it with faux flowers and beads for a table centerpiece.
  55. Red Hat Society Scrapbook: Create a scrapbook with photos and memorabilia from Red Hat Society events, decorated with red and purple embellishments.
  56. Hat-Shaped Candles: Mold wax into miniature red hats to make decorative candles, perfect for a Red Hat gathering.
  57. Red Hat Jewelry Holder: Make a small jewelry holder shaped like a red hat using clay or paper mache and paint it in vibrant colors.
  58. Red Hat Brooches: Design brooches shaped like red hats with felt, rhinestones, and safety pins to wear on your lapel.
  59. Red Hat-Themed Picture Frame: Decorate a wooden picture frame with red and purple paint, rhinestones, and mini hat cutouts to display group photos.
  60. Red Hat Greeting Cards: Design handmade greeting cards featuring 3D red hats made from paper, ribbons, and buttons for a personalized touch.
  61. Red Hat Bookmarks: Craft red hat-shaped bookmarks from felt or cardstock, embellished with glitter and ribbons.
  62. Decorative Red Hat Gift Boxes: Create small gift boxes in the shape of red hats, perfect for giving treats or small trinkets at events.
  63. Red Hat Ornament: Make a mini red hat ornament using clay or fabric to hang as decoration or give as a gift.
  64. Red Hat Keychains: Use polymer clay to sculpt red hat charms and attach them to keychains for a fun keepsake.
  65. Red Hat-Themed Aprons: Sew or decorate aprons with red and purple fabric and embroidery to wear at Red Hat Society events.
  66. Red Hat Banners: Create a decorative banner using paper, felt, or fabric with hat-themed shapes to hang at gatherings.
  67. Red Hat Vase: Paint a ceramic or glass vase with red hat designs and fill it with purple flowers for a themed display.
  68. Red Hat Pillow Covers: Sew or decorate pillow covers with red hat appliqués and purple accents for a cozy, themed decor piece.
  69. Red Hat Picture Collage: Cut out photos of Red Hat Society gatherings and create a colorful collage, framed in red and purple.
  70. Red Hat Buttons: Design and make custom buttons with red hat designs using a button maker or printed images.
  71. Red Hat Society Door Hanger: Craft a door hanger shaped like a red hat, decorated with ribbons and flowers, to welcome guests.
  72. Hat-Shaped Coasters: Make coasters in the shape of red hats using felt or cork, perfect for tea parties and gatherings.
  73. Red Hat Magnets: Create magnets shaped like red hats using clay or resin, decorated with glitter and rhinestones.
  74. Red Hat Tote Bag: Sew or decorate a tote bag with red hat-themed patches, perfect for carrying event supplies or gifts.
  75. Red Hat Wind Chime: Assemble a wind chime using mini red hat charms, beads, and metal chimes for a musical outdoor decoration.
  76. Red Velvet Cupcakes with Purple Frosting: Bake red velvet cupcakes and top them with purple buttercream frosting to match the Red Hat Society colors.
  77. Strawberry and Blueberry Parfait: Layer strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream in a glass for a vibrant red, purple, and white dessert.
  78. Red Hat Sugar Cookies: Shape sugar cookies into red hat designs and decorate with red and purple icing and edible glitter.
  79. Beetroot and Goat Cheese Salad: Serve a colorful beetroot salad topped with creamy goat cheese, representing the red and purple theme.
  80. Tomato and Basil Bruschetta: Prepare bruschetta with fresh tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil on toasted bread, adding a touch of elegance to your event.
  81. Red Velvet Hot Chocolate: Make a rich, creamy red velvet hot chocolate, perfect for sipping at a Red Hat Society gathering.
  82. Raspberry-Pomegranate Sorbet: Whip up a refreshing sorbet with raspberries and pomegranate, offering a sweet and tart treat in the society’s signature colors.
  83. Purple Cabbage Slaw: Shred purple cabbage and toss it with a tangy dressing for a vibrant side dish that complements the red hat theme.
  84. Red Bell Pepper Hummus: Blend roasted red peppers into hummus for a flavorful dip that pairs well with pita chips or veggie sticks.
  85. Plum and Raspberry Tart: Bake a tart filled with plums and raspberries for a fruity dessert that brings both color and flavor to the table.
  86. Purple Potato Salad: Use purple potatoes in a traditional potato salad recipe to add a pop of color to the dish.
  87. Cranberry and Walnut Scones: Bake scones filled with cranberries and walnuts for a tea-time snack that adds a red splash to your event.
  88. Beetroot Hummus: Serve beetroot hummus with red and purple vegetable sticks, like carrots and purple cauliflower, for a healthy dip platter.
  89. Eggplant Parmesan: Create a delicious baked eggplant parmesan, showcasing the rich purple color of the eggplant in every bite.
  90. Berry and Cream Trifle: Layer berries, whipped cream, and sponge cake in a trifle dish for an easy-to-make, visually stunning dessert.
  91. Red Wine Sangria: Mix up a refreshing red wine sangria with citrus fruits and berries for a signature Red Hat Society drink.
  92. Cherry and Almond Tart: Bake a cherry and almond tart, combining sweet cherries with a buttery crust for a crowd-pleasing dessert.
  93. Roasted Red Pepper Soup: Make a creamy roasted red pepper soup, perfect for serving in small cups or bowls at a gathering.
  94. Purple Cauliflower Mash: Replace traditional mashed potatoes with a creamy purple cauliflower mash for a healthy and colorful side dish.
  95. Blackberry Cobbler: Bake a warm blackberry cobbler, featuring juicy berries and a golden, crispy topping.
  96. Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Quiche: Serve a savory quiche filled with tomatoes and roasted red peppers for a brunch or light lunch option.
  97. Red Grape and Feta Salad: Toss red grapes, feta cheese, and greens in a light vinaigrette for a refreshing, fruity salad.
  98. Red Velvet Cake Pops: Make bite-sized red velvet cake pops, dipped in purple chocolate and served on sticks for a fun, portable treat.
  99. Raspberry Cream Cheese Danish: Bake puff pastry filled with raspberry preserves and cream cheese for a decadent pastry to serve with tea.
  100. Berry-Infused Water: Prepare a pitcher of berry-infused water using strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries for a refreshing, flavored drink.

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