From hag to heroine: The evolution of the crooked witch hat in pop culture

By admin

A crooked witch hat is an iconic symbol often associated with witches. It is a distinctive and recognizable feature in many Halloween costumes and decorations. The crooked appearance of the hat adds an element of whimsy and intrigue to the overall witch persona. The crooked witch hat typically features a tall, pointed cone shape with a brim that curves in various directions. The uneven and off-kilter design gives the hat a mischievous and slightly chaotic vibe. It creates the impression that the witch who wears it is unconventional and unpredictable.


When UTSA students graduate, many receive a class ring. The ring, which serves as a symbol of pride and accomplishment, creates a bond between alums and future graduates. It also connects our graduates' accomplishments to the deep and rich history of San Antonio and Texas: since 2012, every UTSA class ring has stayed overnight at the Alamo the night before the ring ceremony. The rings are hand-delivered by the UTSA Alumni Association in a secure box as part of the cherished tradition.

Antonio Gonzalez III, the first student to wear the Roadrunner Mascot costume, made his debut by hatching from an egg during a basketball pep rally on November 24, 1981. Students voted in a final election in December 1977, and on December 9, 1977, at a bonfire rally, the roadrunner was announced as UTSA s first mascot.

Utsa roadrunner sports mascot

It creates the impression that the witch who wears it is unconventional and unpredictable. The crooked witch hat is often depicted in dark or bold colors, such as black or purple, to reinforce its association with mystery and magic. It may be adorned with additional details like stars, moons, or spiderwebs to further enhance its mystical aura.

Go…Dillos?: How UTSA’s Mascot Became the Roadrunner

With UTSA’s long-awaited announcement yesterday that football will be added to the athletics program, the Top Shelf decided to take a look at the history of UTSA’s mascot, Rowdy the Roadrunner.

In 1987, Dr. Thomas Greaves, Director of the Division of Social Sciences at UTSA from 1973-1980, donated some interesting artifacts to the university in the hope that they would be given to an archivist. The items included an oversize mock-up of a logo for the “UTSA Dillos” (above) and a drawing of an armadillo. Greaves writes in his letter of donation that “the poster and the armadillo cutout stem from … when UTSA was deciding what to call its athletic team. There was a campus-wide vote between the Roadrunners, the Stars, and the Armadillos, and a vigorous campaign on behalf of each. The armadillos lost, but these two items were part of the wall posters during the election.”

Students indeed elected their own mascot, in the fall semester of 1977. According to an article in the October 1977 UTSA Bulletin entitled “Mascot Choices Bear Up,” students suggested approximately 50 possible mascots in September 1977 (the title references the suggestion of the bear as a possible mascot). The top nine suggestions–the armadillo, eagle, el conquistador, jaguar, puma, roadrunner, star, toro, and vaquero–were put to a vote in November 1977. The votes were tallied, and the top two contenders were announced: the armadillos and the stars.

There were arguments for both. Athletics Director Rudy Davalos had requested the star to be added to the ballot. “The star would be a good mascot for UTSA because Texas is the lone star state,” Davalos is quoted as saying in a November 4, 1977 press release. “The star is neither masculine nor feminine and equally can represent men and women athletes.” The press release states that former Student Representative Assembly member and “strong armadillo supporter” Bruce Garcia argued that “UTSA is located in the Texas hill country and needs a mascot symbolic of this area. The armadillo serves this purpose perfectly.”

Fortunately for the roadrunner, the election was subsequently declared void by the Student Representative Assembly and a new election was scheduled. The nine original candidates were included on the new ballot, with a write-in option. On November 23, with 1900 of UTSA’s 7350 students voting, the two new leaders were announced: the armadillo and the roadrunner. Students voted in a final election in December 1977, and on December 9, 1977, at a bonfire rally, the roadrunner was announced as UTSA’s first mascot.

Do you know why the UTSA roadrunner was named “Rowdy”? If you have any information on the naming of UTSA’s mascot, please contact the University Archivist.

There were arguments for both. Athletics Director Rudy Davalos had requested the star to be added to the ballot. “The star would be a good mascot for UTSA because Texas is the lone star state,” Davalos is quoted as saying in a November 4, 1977 press release. “The star is neither masculine nor feminine and equally can represent men and women athletes.” The press release states that former Student Representative Assembly member and “strong armadillo supporter” Bruce Garcia argued that “UTSA is located in the Texas hill country and needs a mascot symbolic of this area. The armadillo serves this purpose perfectly.”
Crpoked witch hat

This type of hat is commonly seen in various forms of Halloween imagery, including costumes, decorations, and artwork. It is a popular accessory that can instantly transform a person into a witch-like character, adding a touch of fantasy and enchantment to any Halloween celebration. In addition to its decorative purposes, the crooked witch hat also has symbolic meaning. It represents nonconformity and the rejection of societal norms. By wearing a crooked hat, witches challenge the conventional notions of beauty and correctness, embracing their own unique style and individuality. Overall, the crooked witch hat is a fun and playful representation of witches and their magical powers. It is an essential element in creating the iconic witch look and adds an extra dose of charm and intrigue to Halloween festivities..

Reviews for "Witches and wizards: Exploring the meaning behind the crooked hat in literature"

1. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I was really looking forward to "Crooked Witch Hat" because I love magical stories, but I was disappointed. The plot was confusing and the characters were underdeveloped. It felt like the author was trying to cram too much into the story without giving us enough background or explanation. I struggled to connect with the main character and found myself getting bored with the repetitive dialogue. Overall, it just didn't live up to my expectations.
2. Michael - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "Crooked Witch Hat" to be incredibly dull and uninteresting. The pacing was extremely slow, and I had to force myself to keep reading. The writing style was overly descriptive and pretentious, making it difficult to follow the actual storyline. The author spent too much time on irrelevant details and failed to create any sense of urgency or excitement. I was left feeling bored and uninvested in the outcome. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging read.
3. Emily - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "Crooked Witch Hat" as a fan of fantasy novels, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The world-building was lacking, leaving me with many unanswered questions about the magic system and the overall setting. The plot was predictable, and the twists and turns were uninspiring. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, which made it difficult to care about their journey. Overall, I found this book to be forgettable and not worth the read.
4. Alex - ★☆☆☆☆
"Crooked Witch Hat" was a complete disappointment. The writing was confusing and disjointed, making it hard to follow the storyline. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the interactions between characters were awkward. The pacing was all over the place, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed resolutions. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and found myself not caring about what happened to them. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Magical tricks for styling your crooked witch hat

From fairy tale to fashion statement: The crooked witch hat goes mainstream