American in Scotland

[KiltedMariner]

Greetings,

I'm becoming addicted to the forum; thanks for all of the great posts! I have more questions:

What is thought when an American wears the kilt in Scotland? Is it appreciated? Posing? Ridiculed? Along the same line, is the kilt still worn as daywear in Scotland? By how many?

Thank you,
Richard

[beloitpiper]

The last (three) times I went to Scotland, I didn't even bring pants. I was warmly welcomed (of course, there was a rabble already expecting my arrival!)

[shawhighlander]

I talked with Lord Jamie Semphill (Spokes person for The Gathering) and my great friend Paul MacLean (who owns MacLean Tours, in Scotland) and both of them were very impressed with the way that we 'Americans' honor our Scottish Heritage. They both commented that the support we show at Highland Games is magnanimous and they are genuinely excited and anticipating our arrival at Edinburgh Games this July!

Absolutely, wear the kilt!

[Tartan Hiker]

I wore a kilt about half the time I was there (8 days total). I saw very few others, got a few compliments (fewer than I would get here in the same amount of time), but no "negatives" at all, except from Asian girls, who almost without fail laughed hysterically every time they saw me.

[The Barry]

From what I've heard (no personal experience here), Scots tend to wear the kilt on weekends. So if you're going to be there on a Friday or Saturday (why would you go for less than a month?), bring a kilt, wear it, and get a pint (hopefully for free) at the pub.

A friend of mine told me a secret about being in a pub in Scotland: bring along a 6' tall redhead and neither of you will pay for drinks. I've got my redhead, anybody else?

[GMan]

Go Kilted.

[Prester John]

I suppose, if there is ANYWHERE one should wear a kilt, Scotland would be the place!

[Jock Scot]

A properly worn tartan kilt is appreciated by us all in Scotland. I am not sure that we are quite ready for the modern style of non tartan kilt though! There are one or two who are wearing them and I doubt if any comment would be made, there will be thoughts, if the modern type was worn here in the highlands, but there are places in, say, Glasgow that might raise a comment or two.

No, the kilt is not daily wear for most Scots, in fact quite the opposite and I doubt that 50% of Scots own a kilt. Make no mistake, whilst they may not own a kilt, ALL Scots consider themselves as kilt experts, even if they are not! Generally speaking, we do not understand the wearing of more than one tartan. There are exceptions, such as wearing a different tartan of the same clan, a pipe band tartan, or, your regimental tartan. So, If you were making a home here for say 6 months or more, stick with one tartan, particularly in the highlands. Nothing would ever be said, but the thought would most certainly be there; "poser", if, you were to wear different tartans.

[cessna152towser]

Unlike Jock I do wear different tartans but only ones with which I have some connection so if I am ever asked about the tartan there is always a story to tell.

[Phil]

Wearing the kilt is not looked upon as anything exceptional here and, in fact, most Scots seeing you kilted would think they should have worn theirs too. As others have said, kilt-wearing is not usual here in Scotland but it is certainly not regarded as anything but normal if you do. There was a very interesting TV programme "Scotland on Film" shown here last night and it was archive footage from the 1950's I think, all about the Highlands and Islands. It was excellent but there was one item totally absent from all these Highlanders and Islanders - not one single, solitary KILT. As Jock says, stick to tartan though as attitudes here about "men in skirts" can be a bit ambivalent and not always as "politically correct" as elsewhere, particularly in certain areas.