Cowboy Superstitions

The cowboy hat is steeped in tradition, and with it comes a set of unspoken rules and superstitions.

In rodeo and ranch culture, did you know setting a hat down with the brim touching the surface is considered unlucky because it allows all the good luck to “spill out?” No wonder I've had a bad streak, I thought that was how you were supposed to set your hat down. From now on I will make a bowl with my hat to hold all my luck in!

                        WRONG WAY                                              RIGHT WAY

Many cowboys also believe that placing a hat on a bed invites bad luck, similar to other hat superstitions around the world. In some cultures, in was thought to cause disease, nightmares, and death! The real reason may have had more to do with hygiene. No one wants to sleep in a bed where a dirty, lice-ridden hat once laid. Also, the hat was thought of as a respected accessory worthy of a proper place for hanging.

Another long-standing cowboy tradition involves how hats are gifted and worn. If you receive a cowboy hat as a gift, it's customary to place a coin inside the hatband as a token of good luck. This tradition is carried on today as we see many hats adorned with cards, feathers, and other talisman like items tucked in the hatband. If you are wondering which side of the hatband, it should always be the left because it is closer to the heart and provides no obstruction in the event there is a need for a quick draw. 

One more thought on superstitions and traditions of the cowboy hat. It’s considered poor manners to touch another person’s hat without permission, as a cowboy’s hat is seen as a personal and almost sacred item. So don't touch my hat!

What are your thoughts about these superstitions? Are they real or hogwash? Do you have any?