Sombrero calañés facts for kids

The sombrero calañés is a special kind of traditional hat from Spain. It comes from a town called Calañas in the province of Huelva, which is part of Andalusia. Sometimes, people also call it the sombrero castoreño. This is because it was often made from the soft felt of a beaver (castor in Spanish) or similar animal fur.

This 1861 painting shows an Aragonese man with a sombrero calañés hanging from his arm.

What Does a Sombrero Calañés Look Like?

This unique hat has a low, cone-shaped top, called a crown. Its brim, which is the part that sticks out, is turned up and even rolls over. You might also see small, bumpy decorations on the very top of the crown and on one side of the brim.

How It's Worn

The low crown of the hat can be made tighter or looser with a cord. People usually wear the sombrero calañés tilted a bit to one side, making it look cool and stylish. It's more of a decorative hat than one used for practical things like keeping sun out of your eyes.

Another Style of Sombrero

There is also a slightly different version of this hat. It looks a bit like a sombrero de catite, but its cone-shaped crown is not quite as tall. This style often has a small pompom hanging from a cord at the top, which dangles down to one side of the hat.

Wearing with a Kerchief

Both types of the sombrero calañés are often worn over a kerchief. A kerchief is a piece of cloth, like a bandana, that is tied at the back of the neck.

Why Is It Called "Castoreño"?

The name sombrero castoreño comes from the Spanish word for beaver, which is castor. This is because these hats were traditionally made from beaver felt. Felt is a type of cloth made by pressing and matting fibers together. Beaver felt was popular because it was very soft and durable.

See also

In Spanish: Sombrero calañés para niños