Why I Started Wearing A Zucchetto: The Meaning Behind the “Beanie.”

Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way… it’s technically not a beanie. That said, one of the fun things about being a priest is that we get to wear some of the most fantastic clothing in the world. The church has no shortage of headgear options for the clergy. Some of you have seen my biretta (the hat with the silk pom on the top), which I wear on 1^st Sundays when we use incense. You’ve also seen bishops wear a mitre (the pointy hat) during their Episcopal visits over the years. Perhaps you’ve noticed a priest or two who wore a small round hat called a zucchetto (zoo-keh-tow) over the years.

I’ve always appreciated what the zucchetto symbolizes (more on that in a moment), but I have hesitated to wear one because… well, let’s just be honest… I knew it would bring some very creative, holy humor. However, a friend who has worn one for years, Fr. Richard Easterling, Rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Florence, Italy, recently convinced me to wear a zucchetto as a spiritual practice for a few months and then see if it had any effect on my spiritual life. That’s when I said, “What do I have to lose?”

The History of the Zucchetto:

The zucchetto dates back to the fifth century. At that time, when a man was ordained as a priest or was inducted into specific religious orders, their ecclesiastical authorities shaved a bald spot on the top of their heads to symbolize their commitment to Christ as his servants. (During that period, enslaved people and servants had the tops of their heads shaved by their owners/masters). Since the churches in previous centuries were not adorned with Wi-Fi HVAC systems, they were cold and drafty… hence the clergy created a cap to cover the bald spot on their heads. In the original Italian, the word zucchetto means “small gourd” and comes from the root zucca, meaning pumpkin. Apparently, the monks needed a cap to cover their cold and bald pumpkin heads!

So, what does the zucchetto symbolize for me?

The answer is multi-layered. Over the years, I have learned that imagination is a massively important aspect of my faith and spiritual life. When I’m exhausted from the toll things take on me spiritually, mentally, and physically, I always realize that my spiritual imagination is stifled.

In those times of testing, I see a zucchetto as an outward reminder to honor and acknowledge God’s call on my life to serve him as a priest. I also see it as a cue, as St. Paul said to the Romans, allowing God to cover my mind and give me the mind of Christ. 

Fr. Kevin Kelly, the rector from St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church in Savanah, GA, wrote an article that shares his reasons for wearing the zucchetto. Apart from being a kindred spirit in the Anglo-Catholic liturgical persuasion, Fr. Kevin says that wearing a zucchetto “Is a reminder that I am called to obedience, humility, and prayer, not just when I want to be or when I “feel like it” but as my obligation, my duty in the service of Christ and the Church.”

For me, the decision to wear a zucchetto—at least for the time being—serves to remind me that I am “under orders.” That, in my opinion, helps me build greater spiritual imagination. It reminds me I am called to creativity, prayer, a positive mentality, a hopeful Christ-like attitude, and brave humility in life. Regardless of how I feel in body or spirit, the zucchetto is a reminder that I have the blessing and the weight of serving under the authority of Christ, and that is empowering and humbling. So, my zucchetto is not just a fashion statement; it’s a message to me that says… “even if I’m a pumpkin head… I’m God’s pumpkin head.”