Question: Which fashion accessory sparked a series of riots in New York during the fall of 1922?
Answer: The Straw Hat Riots of 1922 lasted eight days and involved fights among boys and men on the streets of New York, causing injuries and jail time.
In the early 1900s, it was customary for men to wear straw hats from May 15 (Straw Hat Day) until September 15 (Felt Hat Day). Wearing a straw hat outside these dates was considered a breach of etiquette.
As summer ended, men would often playfully smash each other’s hats to mark the occasion. In 1922, gangs of young boys began stealing and destroying hats, leading to mob confrontations that created widespread chaos in the streets.
