The hat is first introduced in the song Dancing Through Life and is a gift to Galinda from her grandmother. As Galinda stated it was 'hideodious'. Galinda's friends convinced her to give Elphaba the hat as a joke for the party that Fiyero was throwing at the Ozdust Ballroom. Even after she is made fun of for wearing it, Elphaba still continued to wear the hat on occasions, such as her first trip to the Emerald City. It later became one of her trademarks (along with the broom, and emerald skin). It is one of the two items (green elixir being the other) that she leaves for Glinda after she fakes her death.