La Fete des Catherinettes

St. Catherine of Alexandria

 

Today, November 25th, is the Feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of milliners! Originally the patron saint of young unmarried women, Catherine was adopted by milliners because so many young women worked as hat makers. These women became known as “Catherinettes”.  La Fete des Catherinettes is traditionally a day that the French fashion world celebrates hats and hat makers with festive parties.  The Catherinettes wear elaborate hats designed for the occasion in Ste. Catherine’s colors: yellow (symbolizing faith) and green (symbolizing knowledge or wisdom).  Today there will be some flamboyant hat wearing and lots of tipsy parading through the streets of Paris, especially in the 2nd arrondissement, where the procession ends at the statue of Saint Catherine.  (There are several hilarious/silly scenes depicting the fete in the Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward comedy A New Kind of Love.  Actually, the entire movie is pretty silly but I love it especially for those scenes!)

pour les Catherinettes

In honor of my patron saint and to help spread some hat love, I am offering free shipping to anywhere in the US and $10 off international shipping for all purchases made today in my etsy shop!  

Please wear a hat today and drink a toast to all of your favorite milliners!