If you’re Cap’n Crunch, you wear a bicorne hat. If you’re Captain Canadiana, you wear a toque!
7th century
In Scandinavia, records suggest that vikings are attaching small balls of fabric—a.k.a. pom-poms—to their hats (as in this bronze statuette that dates back to the Viking age).
15th century
Some of the earliest knit caps are produced in Monmouth, a town in Wales. The area was, at the time, known for its sheep farming, and therefore, wool production. Some historians believe the “Monmouth caps” were initially worn by soldiers under their helmets.
18th century
Hunters, loggers, and trappers in North America are wearing knit caps for practical purposes: warmth.
1880
The term toque (to mean “knit cap”) is first documented in Canadian English; it likely evolved from the French-Canadian “tuque.”
1911
The town of La Tuque, Que., named after a nearby mountain that looks like a pointed hat, is officially formed.
1900s
The U.S. military standardizes the “watch cap” style of knit hat: dark, with a wide edge that can be rolled up. The warm hats were practical for service-men “standing watch” outdoors. The design was such that the hats could fit snugly and cover the ears for warmth.
1955
The Quebec Winter Carnival, and its mascot, the Bonhomme Carnaval, make their debut.
1960s
Celebrities such as Michael Nesmith from The Monkees make woolen, pom-topped hats popular.
1971
Pierre Trudeau, wearing a stocking-cap style toque and a fringed jacket, is photographed kissing a woman during an event in his Mount Royal riding. (The woman wasn’t his wife. Blame Trudeaumania.)
1972
The Beachcombers, featuring Robert Clothier as the toque-wearing character Relic, begins airing on CBC.
1980
Toque-loving Bob and Doug McKenzie start appearing on SCTV in the TV show’s third season.
1995
Alanis Morissette debuts her “Ironic” music video, wearing a classic Canadian toque. (Ironically?)
2003
José Théodore, a Montreal Canadiens goalie, wears a toque on top of his mask during the 2003 Heritage Classic game. It was -15°C at the time.
2013
CBC Edmonton polls Canadians: “Hey Hosers—what do you call that cap on your head?” The results were divided, with the majority choosing toque, tuque, or touque.
2015
A Guinness World Record for the world’s “Largest Knitted Hat” (20.2 m in circumference) is set in Peru.
2016
After 18 months of R&D, the Canadian company Frontier releases the “World’s Best Tuque;” it costs $195. According to Frontier, the hat “features a two-part construction for superior fit and warmth, with an exterior layer of Merino wool, known for warmth, softness, durability, and fine appearance. The interior layer is made of a Qiviut blend wool…brushed from Canadian muskox.”
2017
Cottage Life features a “Sorry” toque in its Canada 150 issue (Waterfront, Early Summer). Not sorry!
2024
Retro-inspired toques, beanies, and knit hats are popular as ever. What are you waiting for? Put on a toque. Or tuque. Or touque.
And beyond! Who knows where toques will take us in the future? Hold on to your hats!
This story originally appeared in our Winter ’24 issue.
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