Nothing more concisely exemplifies Queen’s spirit than our beloved tams. The Tam O’Shanter is a hat that reflects Queen’s Scottish roots. The hat is a flat bonnet with a pom-pom in the middle. While the main body of the hat is nay blue, the colour of the pom-pom on top changes to reflect the school the wearer is in.
Queen’s tams have been worn since the 1920s when they were commonly worn as part of formal attire. Of course, in those days, formal attire was fairly normal for school attendance. The queen’s tam can be easily seen often (if one knows where to look) well into the 30s. Today, the tam isn’t worn as much but it still exemplifies Queen’s spirit (one need only see the students at football games).
For first years, the tam is a piece of tolerated annoyance as tradition dictates that the tam must be worn over the ears. It is a bit scratchy (and a bit painful for those with glasses) but they are a symbol that they are indeed proud Queen’s Students.
