What does the 13 buttons on the Blue “Cracker Jack” pants mean?
If you said that they represent the original 13 colonies…you are wrong. 🙂
For decades, older Sailors told incoming Sailors that the 13 buttons on the front of the Cracker Jack bell bottoms represented the original 13 colonies. I was also told this by my first Chief on my first ship. 🙁
The myth was so commonplace , it actually had to be excised from Navy history texts.
Real reason the pants had 13 buttons…….Sailors originally used a drawstring to hold up their pants, but replaced the drawstrings in 1864 when a new version of the bell bottoms was designed with seven buttons across the top holding the crotch flap.
With a nod toward comfort in more tropical climates, the Navy elongated the flap also called a broadfall in 1897, and two buttons were added to each side, now totaling 11.
But as Navy men grew broader, thanks to improvement in nutrition, the flap needed to grow longer.
So in 1905 more buttons were added, creating those 13 buttons.
Why buttons instead of zippers?
Because buttons are much easier to replace on the fly, and early zippers corroded in the salty weather.
What a pain it was if you waited too long to pee especially now that I am an “OLD” salt and the hands are arthritic! Needless to say, I don’t button but 2 when wearing on Veterans day etc🤠
The rear had tie-up drawstrings.