Figure 1.--Here is a snap shot sent to us by a French Canadian reader. It was taken in 1942 of himself and his older brother. Both boys wear berets. Click on this image to see a photograph of the family.

We have noted some younger Canadian boys wearing berets. We are not sure how common it was. Nor are we sure what the chronology of this were. We have noted Canadian boys wearing boys during the 1930s-50s. Our archieve, however, is rather limited and berets may have been wirn earlier. Unlike France, we do not see older boys wearing beret. Rather like America, the beret seems to have been a style for girls and younger boys. One example here is that after World war II, we note some Canadian Scouts wearing berets. Most of the boys wearing berets seem to have been French Canadian boys. Here we see two French Candian boys wearing berets in 1942. We are not sure if Canandian girls wore berets as was common in America. We belieeve that English Canadian boys did not commonly were berets because the French had a lowe-class status in Canada. In America French styles were considered fashionable and stylish wuithout any of the lower-class association in Canada..

A French Canadian reader tells us, "Before asking if the béret was worn by many French Canadians, do go to the etymology. Even if it is a derivative of Berr from ireland (a kind of headwear worn in the middle ages, Béret is a PROVENCAL word from the south of France (Pays Basque near Spain ) ; it is called "Béret basque" distinct from other form like Béret alpin (Alpine béret or Béret militaire). The shape is a kind of headwear characterized by softness and flatness. At first, it was a military headwear in France but also in great-Brittain. Think of Général Montgomery. Gradually, the Béret became a kind of label of middle-class French people as seen by strangers like Americans. It was very popular in the 30s until the 70s. [HMB note: We would suggest a different chronology for the French beret.] It was worn by all classes of French Society. The big advantage with this cap is that it can be torn and put in a pocket. Texture was rainproof. The béret was less popular in Canada for a simple reason: Winter. That is why kids wore caps with protective ear flaps. But when temperature was mildy, béret was worn extensively. It was rapidly associated to intellectuals, students and children. Workers cap were a kind of symbol for laboring class. I wore myself a béret until I was 20 years old. I was sometimes laughted at me by those who left schools at the end of the primary. It was more worn by middle-class children."

Created: 8:30 PM 9/9/2004
Last updated: 8:30 PM 9/9/2004