American in Scotland

[freddie]

I think the kilt is worn more now in Scotland (other than formal events) than it was say up to thirty years ago, certainly by the younger guys anyway. I well remember my Mother quoting an old Edinburgh saying "If you see someone in a kilt along Princess Street it'll be a Yank" This comment alluded to a wealthy American tourist at a time when most ordinary Scots (my Mother came from a working class background where money was very tight) just couldn't afford a kilt. In fact none of my Scottish relatives ever wore a kilt, or even had the desire to do so, even the ones who wore it in the army never wore it in civilian life. In fact when we went up a few years ago our relatives were taking us out to dinner and my cousin, who knew I liked to wear the kilt, said "I hope you're not going to show us up by wearing your kilt". No, if you go to Scotland don't expect to see everyone running around in kilts, unfortunately it just doesn't happen.