It's a German thing, I think

Tom's aunt and uncle spent the weekend with us. Helmut gave Tom another "pin" for his hat. It seems that it's a tradition to buy pins from everywhere you go and put them on a hat. Not just any hat, it has to be a real German hat (not the kind for tourist). Tom always ask Helmut to put it on the hat. So here's a few photos of the hat and pins.