As a child turns 5 on Tequille Island, the hats change for the boys. The hat on the right of the picture is for the boys and the one on the left is for the girls. The girls hat remains the same until she starts wearing just a black shawl like apparel that covers her head and shoulders and hangs to her waist. The boys get a new hat each year until age 20. Each year the knit hat gets to be better quality until it can hold water……the girls do not look at the boys themselves to determine attractiveness. They look at the hats. Once a choice is made, they couple lives together for 3 years. If things do not work out, they go their separate ways after that 3 year trial. Divorce is not an option on this Island!

The men in the dance group were married as indicated by their hats. The married man’s cap is not of as fine a quality as the unmarried caps because they already have their wives!