10/6 Mad Hatter Day!

By Diane Forrest,

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!

How I wonder what you're at!

No, I haven't gone mad....but I could today, its Mad Hatter Day!  Mad Hatter Day is a great day to be silly and celebrate silliness.

The Mad Hatter is a fictional cartoon character depicted in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Mad Hatter is always acting silly.

Despite being a silly day, the selection of the date was actually quite logical. The Mad Hatter wears a top hat. On the front of the hat is a slip of paper with "10/6" written on it. The paper is believed to be an order to make the hat, and that it costs ten shillings sixpence.

I don't know about you, but I am beginning to see a theme developing this month.  There was Mental Illness Awareness, then Bipolar Disease, Depression Screening, and Now Mad Hatter day.

"Mad as a hatter" is a colloquial phrase used in conversation to refer to a crazy person. In 18th and 19th century England mercury was used in the production of felt, which was used in the manufacturing of hats common of the time. People who worked in these hat factories were exposed daily to trace amounts of the metal, which accumulated within their bodies over time, causing some workers to develop dementia caused by mercury poisoning. Thus the phrase "Mad as a Hatter" became popular as a way to refer to someone who was perceived as insane.

Throughout the course of the film, Disney's Alice in Wonderland, the Hatter pulls numerous items out of his hat, such as cake and smaller hats. He and the Hare also break the laws of physics more than once; they pour tea cups and plates out of tea kettles, and the Hatter is seen eating plates and other inedible items at the tea party, also the March Hare asks the Hatter for half a cup of tea, and the Hatter cuts his tea cup in half and pours him the tea. His personality is that of a child: he is angry one second but happy the next. He also takes an immediate liking to Alice after she tells him she's a fan of his singing.

So, on Mad Hatter Day, it is only fair and fitting to act a little silly yourself.   Grab yourself a top hat, and have a a very silly Mad Hatter's Day!