A Russian woman who moved to the UK has noticed something funny about British people.
Natalia Wright, who is from Russia but now lives in Yorkshire, has found that Brits like to wear silly hats. She claims that if British people wear hats they take the opportunity to “look silly”.
The Russian expat shared a TikTok wearing a bright pink knitted hat from a charity shop in a nod to British culture. She spoke about the difference between wearing a hat in the UK and in Russia.
Speaking to the camera, Natalia said: “I have noticed that British people don’t wear hats but if they do they usually take this opportunity to look silly and when I lived in Russia I took it very seriously and I would usually buy a stylish hat but today I bought this hat from a charity shop for just two quid and it looks so silly and I like it.
“I really like it. I think it represents me very well and I think I’m becoming more British if I can say so.” The TikTok video has got 330,000 views, 52,000 likes and more than a thousand comments.
TikTok users agreed with Natalia that Brits are fans of silly hats. One said: “As a British person I can confirm we love silly hats.” Another added: “They have a ministry for silly hats” while a third commented: “We had a silly hat party last Christmas”.
Meanwhile, one commenter shared a story about their grandad and his love for silly hats. They said: “My grandad loved silly hats, he used to collect them. Just before he passed, it was his request that everyone came to his funeral wearing the funniest hat they could find.”
Brits are familiar with wearing all kinds of hats from casual everyday ones to formal hats for occasions. A knitted hat with a bobble on top is a staple British winter hat, worn by adults and children.
Other TikTok users in the comment section of Natalia’s video said that British people don’t take themselves too seriously with how they dress. One person said: “Just today my (Polish) mum was saying how much she loves that people like to dress a little silly here in England and don’t take themselves as seriously”.
A second added: “Everyone thinks the Brits are so serious but we really aren’t! A silly hat brings colour and joy to our long dark winters.”
Further commenters said they don’t think Natalia’s hat is silly or silly enough as one TikTok user made a joked: “I apologise but I work in the department of silly hats and in fact your hat is not silly, or silly enough. I recommend going to your nearest silly hat shop and buying a proper silly hat.”
Men and women from Russia, Natalia’s home country wear hats as a fashion accessory, even in winter so only a stylish one will do. Natalia responded to a user who claimed her hat isn’t ‘silly’ by saying “I wouldn’t wear something like this in Russia”.
Natalia filmed the TikTok in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, and some TikTok users agreed that she is “becoming more British” through her use of the word ‘quid’ instead of pound. And of course, the silly hat.