http://www.canada.com/topics/lifesty...1-85e8b2ebdffe

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465...7519-57826.jpg

100-proof Scottish
View Larger Image
(A man playing the bagpipes)
Photograph by : Darren Stone, Times Colonist
Article Tools

Published: Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Today is Robbie Burns Day. Naturally, you'll want to be fully versed in all things Scottish. With that in mind, we proudly present Colin Murray, a respected Victoria musician who plays pipes with Castle Cary Pipes and Drums.

Study the photo of his Scottish attire, read the captions carefully, and you may well pass for a Scot yourself. (That is, if you can pull off the accent.)

- - -

RIGHT OFF THE TOP

Murray is wearing a Glengarry bonnet or hat, identifiable by the little dip on the top. This style is popular with pipers.

The Balmoral bonnet is the flat-topped variety.

VERSATILE TEXTILE

This day jacket is made from traditional black Barathea cloth, suitable for any time or occasion.

Especially if the occasion involves haggis.

SPORRAN STYLE TIPS

Leather is for day wear. In the evening, the sporran gets considerably fancier -- sometimes made of fox, rabbit, badger, seal (illegal in the United States), mink, muskrat or ermine.

Why the sporran? Clue: Kilts don't have pockets, ye daft puddock!

KILT FACTS

Murray is sporting a Red Fraser tartan kilt. They say "a man in a kilt is a man and a half." We'd go so far as to say Colin is a man and three-quarters. Today, a man's kilt normally uses eight yards of cloth -- up to 11 yards for a really big guy. The proper distance between kilt and kilt hose to display one's bonny knees is three to four inches.

CUTTING EDGE FASHION

Colin has a wee knifey in his sock called the sgian dubh (pronounced skeen doo). It means "black dagger." It comes in handy, he says, if you're attending a haggis feast and the chef has forgotten his kitchen knife. Those tempted to poke fun at a man in a kilt should be forewarned -- he may be carrying a sgian dubh.

BAGPIPE BASICS

The bagpipes' bag is traditionally made from sheepskin or leather. This modern version is

Gor-Tex. The bag is flexible, but airtight and feeds air into the pipes. "Dressing" is used to retain the suppleness of traditional leather bags. Dressings include such concoctions as milk, raw eggs, treacle, honey, whiskey and vinegar. Not a procedure for beginners . . . or those on a diet.

DISTINCTIVE DRONES

Bass drone -- the longest pipe --produces the lowest tones. Tenor drones produce higher tones.

HOLE TRUTH

A piper plays the melody on the chanter, which has a set of finger-holes. They are commonly made of wood, although pipe bands often use plastic ones for extra volume.

POKE AT PIPERS

Bagpipe humour -- What do you call 10 bagpipes under the ocean. Answer: A start (just kidding, pipers).

KILT HUMOUR

So what's worn under the kilt? A true Scot won't say. We asked Colin, who replied: "Shoes and socks, as you can see." When asked the indelicate question, others will say: "Nothing is worn underneath; indeed, everything is in perfect working order."

FLASHY ACCESSORY

In battle, bits of ribbon called flashes were used to identify friend or foe. They poke out beneath the hose's overturn.

LOWDOWN ON SOCKS

Wool socks or hose are usually held up with an elastic garter. Hose for daywear can be white or oatmeal colour.

FOOTNOTE

Ghillie brogues lace up around the ankles and have open tops. Hoot mon, nice ghillies!

Also See:
http://www.canada.com/topics/lifesty...d64c8f&k=94795
http://www.canada.com/topics/lifesty...8-abeb53172147
http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=...7-395f9e356b78
http://www.canada.com/topics/bodyand...8-cb89d22995fe

Hmmmm, and I thought that flashes were used to keep the hose up on yer legs (since hose didn't used to be knit, and would therefore fall down without a garter).

Bryan...still, nice write up...

whats a "puddock"...??? :confused:

Colin, great post. Nice and informative. I am going to keep this for my own use with others curious about the kilt and its accessories.

Cool post, cool picture and great explanations.

Seems a bit "tounge-in-cheek" overall (nothing wrong wi' that), but I wonder if they've confused the flashes with bonnet cockades and plant badges, which were used to identify "friend from foe".

Interesting....

Todd

Garters hold the hose up. The top of the hose folds over them. If you're using ribbon as a garter, you can have the ends hanging out as flashes. If your garters are elastic, then the flashes hang off of them. You don't have to have any flashes (to me they sometimes seem to be a bit much for casual dress), but you'll still probably need the garters.

I'd never heard the part about identfying whose on your side by their flashes. I'd liketo see a more reliable source before I buy that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Seems a bit "tounge-in-cheek" overall (nothing wrong wi' that), but I wonder if they've confused the flashes with bonnet cockades and plant badges, which were used to identify "friend from foe".

Interesting....

Todd

---

No no - look at the angle of the picture. From down there the first thing you would see would be the flashes holding up the hose. Naturally that's what the reporter had in mind when the piece was written up.


Except I thought that all of the "little people" were in Ireland ...

I have never heard of the flashes being used to convey any meaning. Now the sgian dubh does. If you can see the knife on the other person, then that is his way of saying that he trusts the company that he is in. If you see a scot, and you do not see his knife, then he might be a bit jumpy.

Remember in the film Rob Roy? Liam Nesson's character kept the blade hidden in his tam.

Oh, and "sgian dubh" is actually pronounced: /skane doov/; in Gaelic, "bh" and "mh" are given the "v" sound.

-ian

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wompet

No no - look at the angle of the picture. From down there the first thing you would see would be the flashes holding up the hose. Naturally that's what the reporter had in mind when the piece was written up.


Except I thought that all of the "little people" were in Ireland ...

---

I don't know what the reporter was thinking, but the part about the cockade and plant badges is a fairly well-documented story. I believe Stuart Reid tells the story in several books he has written about the '45 where a Campbell, a member of the Argyll militia (and therefore dressed in Highland attire) was almost cut down by government soldiers -- the Campbell shouted, "I'm loyal --look at the cockade and the sprig in my bonnet!", or something to that effect. I'll find the source tonight.

I was referring to the symbolism behind the flashes/cockade and how it could be confused with this statement...

Regards,

Todd