Gnomes and Phrygian Hats
In Earth folk lore, gnomes are associated with pointy hats, also called "Phyrgian hats" primarily because Phyrigan are associated with magic and trickery. They could use these magic hats to disappear. This dates back to when folklore was fuzzier and the distinctions between dwarf/elf/gnome/goblin/etc hadn't been as firmly established as it it is now thanks to J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and generations of writers and game makers influenced by Tolkien and Lewis.
In Scarterra, I have created my own backstory linking gnomes to brightly colored pointy hats.
History
Back then, gnomes were frequently enslaved by humans or elves (though modern elves deny it). Sometimes gnomes were enslaved outright and other times they were slaves in all but name."Gnomes were created by the goddess Mera during the Second Age to help foment peace between all the mortal races. There are very few surviving historical records from the Second Age, so don't ask me what kind of hats our Second Age ancestors wore, I do not know. The dawn of the Third Age, also known as the Red Era was a dark time for gnomes.It was a long and painful road from then to relative freedom and comfort gnomes enjoy now. Our ancestors were helped along by some humans along the way including some blessed humans from a now defunct kingdom that for lack of a better word we will call "The Phyrgians". Some say there was human named King Phyrgus or a Queen Phyrgia If I find out which ancient human was responsible I will make sure he or she becomes a Tapukeah, but I probably will never know. Anyway, some powerful human or group of humans was blessed by Mera's wisdom and opted to emancipate all the gnomes in their land and to establish their status as free gnomes, they were given brightly colored pointed hats that made them both taller and more bright looking whereas gnomes in bondages usually wore dull colors and very simple hoods and low riding hats. These symbols of emancipation became known as Phrygian caps. The originators of the Phrygian hats and their descendants prospered with the support of grateful free gnomes providing them with much wisdom and hard work, so more humans followed suit and emancipated their gnomes, and these humans generally saw their fortunes improve shortly after. Also, a few humans that were especially cruel to gnomes suffered mysterious accidents and poisonings, but I digress. Emancipated gnomes from every corner of West Colassia received Phrygian caps as marks of their new status. Eventually this custom was adopted overseas. As gnome emancipation became the norm rather than the exception, free gnomes kept wearing their Phrygian hats as a mark of their heritage and cultural pride even past the point of no living memory existing of enslaved gnomes. Over time, Phyrgian caps evolved from an expression of emancipation and freedom to just a gnorm for what gnomes wear. Phyrgian caps loudly and proudly say 'I'm a gnome, I am may be little but you cannot belittle me!' During the time of Vladimir the Conqueror and the immediate aftermath, Phrygian caps became less popular as daily wear because the new gnome cultural gnorm is to project 'we are all in this together!' so you are likely to see gnomes wear very similar hats and head coverings to whatever the humans, elves, or dwarves around them happen to be wearing, or else go unhatted as more upper class humans and elves are opting to do We gnomes still break out Phrygian hats on weddings and funerals because these are the times it is most important to remember what it is to be a gnome."TOA0078 by National Maritime Museum of Greenwich
Components and tools
Most Phrygian caps are simply made but brightly colored, as is traditional.
Some of the newer Phyrgian caps worn by wealthy gnomes as a status symbol are more commonly seen in more subdued colors but are are often made of rarified materials and include buckles or adornments made of precious metals or even incorporating gemstones.
When humans or other non-gnomes wear Phrygian caps or derivatives of Phyrgian caps, they usually wear hats made of less vibrant colors and usually fold the tip over as opposed to pushing the tip of the hat up.
Participants
Phyrgian hats are considered unisex fashion choices for men and women alike.
Most gnomes own a Phyrgian cap for formal events. A few keep Phrygian hats for day-to-day wear.
Forest gnomes, Meckelorn gnomes, and Stahlheimer gnomes are and were somewhat isolated from other gnomes and don't share historical triumphs and tragedies. Forest gnomes fortunes are tied to the wood elves and the Stahlheimer and Meckelorn gnomes are largely tied to the Meckelorner dwarves and Stahlheimer dwarves. Gnomes of these groups wear Phrygian caps a lot less often than other gnomes greatly favoring to imitate the styles of their elven or dwarven countrymen.
Zegdelian gnomes don't wear Phyrgian caps at all unless they are trying to cozy up to southern gnomes for some reason.
by Eron12 with Heroforge
Observance
Some choose to wear Phyrgian caps all the time, but most limit their donning of such hats to formal occasions, especially weddings and funerals.
Some gnomes view Phrygian caps as proper wear for religious worship ceremonies and others do not. This varies a lot from place to place, and sometimes the norms on this are seasonal, sort of a Scarterran version of "Don't wear white after Labor Day".
A new trend that has popped up in the last several gnome generations is for gnomes who deal with highborn humans or elves to wear Phrygian caps at formal court events. This has further evolved into a growing tendency for wealth and highborn gnomes to choose to wear Phrygian caps for day-to-day wear as a mark of status.
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