Bobble Hats- why is there a bobble.

Everyone knows the phrase Crestfallen. This is derived from knightly tournaments where you wore impressive crests or plumes on your helmet and having them knocked off was a significant disgrace.

This was mirrored in the "sport" of peasant jousting. Played commonly on the Thames, during frost fairs. Commoners would run towards eachother and slide, trying to knock their opponent to the floor. Their knitted hats having a bobble added to them to further mimic/mock the knightly dress. if you could pluck the bobble from your opponent "like the cobbs from the hazel" as you slid past, it was considered a triumphant feat and the the loser would have to purchase his hat with a small mug of mulled mead.