Cheeseheads
Green Bay PackersCoined by Bears fans after their 1985 Super Bowl victory, “Cheesehead” was supposed to get under Packers fans’ skins, not sit on their heads. Though it derived from an insult, this term (from the Dutch “kaaskop” or “head cheese,” meaning mentally dense) has come to symbolize the fanatical devotion of one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. Green Bay fans have embraced this heady moniker and made it their own, wearing the wedge with pride since at least 1987.
Taking its distinctive shape from a wheel of Gouda, its yellow from classic Wisconsin cheddar, and its holes from Swiss, the eclectic make-up of this triangular sombrero reflects the diversity of those who wear it. From infants to octogenarians, the cheesehead is a ubiquitous reminder of Midwesterners’ penchant for not taking themselves too seriously. And, given Green Bay’s status as winners of the first two NFL championships, it’s only right that on Super Bowl Sundays, more cheese is consumed than on any other day. Everything is better with cheese on top.