The Upside Down Cowboy Hat: A Sign of Good Faith
As an avid gamer and old West history buff, I‘m fascinated by the lore and symbolism behind the classic cowboy hat. Flip one upside down, and it takes on a whole new meaning.
At its core, turning a cowboy hat over serves a practical purpose – storing it crown-down helps maintain the hat‘s structure. But according to cowboy superstition, going upside down also preserves the good fortune stored inside the hat!
So beyond function, an upturned hat brim symbolizes respect for luck and Western tradition. It‘s akin to the virtual hats and helmets we tip in our favorite Western games as a sign of manners.
Placing a cowboy hat right-side up with the brim flat is thought to spill out all the good luck. So to keep fortune intact, hats are upended when not being worn. Consider it a way of "hanging up" your luck.
You see this tradition played out in Western games too – watch NPC hats sitting upside down in the background of saloons in Red Dead Redemption 2. Or notice your own character‘s hat resting crown-down when placing it on tables.
Developers thoughtfully incorporate this cowboy custom to reinforce a sense of realism and respect for the genre‘s roots. So in both real-world and virtual Western settings, the upturned hat brim subtly signals faith in fortune and tradition.
Beyond superstition, the way one handles a cowboy hat demonstrates deeper meaning around context, setting, and manners.
For example, removing and properly storing hats when going indoors indicates respect and formality in cowboy culture. But leaving hats on conveys a more casual, informal occasion.
You see this play out in some of the best Western games too. In Red Dead Redemption 2’s story mode, hats come off when greeting ladies or entering fine establishments. Yet walk into a rowdy saloon, and cowboy hats stay firmly in place, signaling a loose, informal setting.
Figuring where and how to place your cowboy hat does take some finesse. But luckily popular Western games act as great tutorials!
Through trial and error in these virtual worlds, players intuitively learn cowboy hat etiquette. We discover not to place hats on beds, another invitation for bad luck. To remove hats when eating dinner or mourning someone’s passing again shows respect.
And with practice, creasing and shaping game cowboy hats just right becomes second nature. Soon we develop an appreciation for the care and customs around real-life cowboy lids too.
So whether virtual or real, upholding the time-honored rules around cowboy hat handling helps preserve both luck and tradition. Just take care to keep your hat ever-so-slightly upturned!
