Why you don't see Scots wearing their kilts often

[Gael Ridire]

Finally after ten pages and a few months late:

The native Scots have presented an excellent point of view. So have others. I loved the one Canadian who called himself a mud-blood (yea, let's see I'm Irish, Scot, Welsh, English, French, Dutch, German, Czech, and Pole). Born in the western U.S. in the Rocky Mountains, my grandfather wanted nothing more then to be a cowboy, I spent a summer working with a 100 head of horses, dressed as a cowboy, never again!

Just as the kilt began in the Highlands it evolved to be accepted in the Lowlands (sort of) and is the national dress of a nation. Then the sons & daughters of that country went abroad and the evolution of the kilt continues. Utility kilts might not be worn or even made in Scotland, but they are in America. Simply it is the kilt in evolution, for some it is good, and for some it is bad.

Some twenty years ago I met a gentleman from Cornwall who was on tour in North America expounding to all that the Cornish were not English but were Celts. He wore a kilt in the Cornish national tartan. He explained that the kilt was not native to the Cornish, but after much discussion it was decided upon that the kilt would be adopted and Cornish tartan setts designed, to tell the world that the Cornish are Celtic, because the world knows that the kilt belongs to Scotland, which is Celtic.

In the late 19th century the Gaelic League of Ireland searched the traditional clothing of Ireland to help designate for people their nationalistic leaning to the English establishment. The caubeen was worn by men, but the French adopted it into the beret. Women wore Celtic style jewelry to show nationalism. Finally it was decided that the kilt should be worn, but to differentiate from the Scots, the material used would be of a plain color and not tartan.

If I hadn't gained so much weight over the past few years, I would wear the kilt every day and probably the utility kilt. The kilt tells all what my heritage is! Next week is one of the state's Celtic festivals. I'm having my daughter make me a vest in the Black Stewart tartan for I'm not comfortable wearing a kilt until I lose weight.

A few years ago I wore my kilt to church no comments were received. The next Sunday sitting behind me was a young Tongan family, the dad wearing his lava-lava. I gave him a thumbs up.

[Dale Seago]

Just as the kilt began in the Highlands it evolved to be accepted in the Lowlands (sort of) and is the national dress of a nation. Then the sons & daughters of that country went abroad and the evolution of the kilt continues. Utility kilts might not be worn or even made in Scotland, but they are in America. Simply it is the kilt in evolution, for some it is good, and for some it is bad.

Some twenty years ago I met a gentleman from Cornwall who was on tour in North America expounding to all that the Cornish were not English but were Celts. He wore a kilt in the Cornish national tartan. He explained that the kilt was not native to the Cornish, but after much discussion it was decided upon that the kilt would be adopted and Cornish tartan setts designed, to tell the world that the Cornish are Celtic, because the world knows that the kilt belongs to Scotland, which is Celtic.

Pretty much how I see it too. Regarding the second paragraph quoted above, despite the fact that many Scots would not consider themselves Celtic it does seem that the kilt has caught on in areas which never historically wore it -- Ireland, Cornwall, Wales, etc. -- as sort of a generic expression of "Celtitude". I rather like that.

[PEEDYC]

Although the kilt was worn as everyday wear back in the dim distant when, it has now become the Scottish National Dress and as such it tends to be worn on special occasions even if it is rented. You don't tend to see many people from other countries wearing their National Dress as daily wear.

I for one wore a kilt daily as a schoolboy although it was not the school uniform. It then became too expensive to wear daily as I was growing and needed a new kilt every few years. Now I am (allegedly) an adult at 63 and not growing any more (except outwards) I can afford the cheaper versions so I wear my kilt on what I deem special occasions. Living in South Yorkshire, England too has a bearing on when I wear it.

I feel proud of the fact that (despite being a lowlander Jock) my National Dress has been adopted by people from many other nations as daily wear.

Carry on kilted.

[Phil]

I feel proud of the fact that (despite being a lowlander Jock) my National Dress has been adopted by people from many other nations as daily wear.

Like you, PEEDYC, as another lowlander perhaps it is my natural reserve that prevents me wearing the kilt every day. But then if I did wear it every day it would no longer be anything special. I mean, if you wear a jacket and trousers every day what is special about wearing a similar, if dressier, outfit to a celebration?
As Robert Burns once said
"That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that. "
and it shames us all that even after all these intervening years there are still those would believe such a dichotomy should exist between the component parts of a single nation, never mind the wider human race.

[Jock Scot]

Like you, PEEDYC, as another lowlander perhaps it is my natural reserve that prevents me wearing the kilt every day. But then if I did wear it every day it would no longer be anything special. I mean, if you wear a jacket and trousers every day what is special about wearing a similar, if dressier, outfit to a celebration?
As Robert Burns once said
"That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that. "
and it shames us all that even after all these intervening years there are still those would believe such a dichotomy should exist between the component parts of a single nation, never mind the wider human race.

Oh come off it chaps the lowlanders have been poking fun(to put it mildly!) at the Highlanders and their kilts for centuries, until very recently in fact, does the jibe "kiltie kiltie cold bum" ring any bells? Of course it does Phil and you know it. All of a sudden the lowlanders are turning into kilt experts!!!!!!!!! Well alright, better late than never.

OK fun over and I am very sorry if I have caused offence to any one. Of course the kilt is now All of Scotland's national attire, as it should have been many many decades and more ago.

Of course we had better not upset the dichotomy between componant parts of a nation by mentioning Scottish indipendance, I suppose, lest we break a forum rule or six!

Over and out.

[Phil]

Oh come off it chaps the lowlanders have been poking fun at the Highlanders and their kilts for centuries, until very recently in fact, does the jibe "kiltie kiltie cold bum" ring any bells? Of course it does Phil and you know it. All of a sudden the lowlanders are turning into kilt experts!!!!!!!!! Well alright, better late than never.

Funny that you should mention that little ditty. It is something I heard once from my parents' generation and not one I would think of using unless to illustrate the very point you are making. But you are right, Highlanders are still known as "teuchters" by some although I don't believe that there is the same disdain shown towards them as there may perhaps have been a generation or two ago. Very much the same attitude prevailed towards the Irish "tattie-howkers" and others in search of a better life.

OK fun over and I am very sorry if I have caused offence to any one. Of course the kilt is now All of Scotland's national attire, as it should have been many many decades and more ago.

I don't think that your sincerely held opinions could be described as offensive, Jock, and I, for one, respect these. Your Highland identity, background and upbringing are the things that make you unique and a little different, however, not a piece of cloth you wrap around you. No-one can usurp that or take it from you.

Of course we had better not upset the dichotomy between componant parts of a nation by mentioning Scottish indipendance, I suppose, lest we break a forum rule or six!

As you say, no further mention of the subject other than to wish that it may happen and in our lifetime.

[madmacs]

Highlanders are still known as "teuchters" by some although I don't believe that there is the same disdain shown towards them as there may perhaps have been a generation or two ago.

Was certainly levelled as an insult towards me when I was in school in the NE of Scotland not THAT long ago...

[macwilkin]

In the late 19th century the Gaelic League of Ireland searched the traditional clothing of Ireland to help designate for people their nationalistic leaning to the English establishment. The caubeen was worn by men, but the French adopted it into the beret. Women wore Celtic style jewelry to show nationalism. Finally it was decided that the kilt should be worn, but to differentiate from the Scots, the material used would be of a plain color and not tartan.

Certain members of the Gaelic League certainly did adopt a variation of Highland attire as "national costume", but it certainly never did catch on among the Irish population as a whole.

As far as the Caubeen being adopted the French, I'm not so sure the members of the Chasseurs Alpins would agree. The "Alpine Hunters" of the French Army were wearing their basque berets long before the Irish caubeen (one of two pieces Irish headgear bearing that name) was adopted by pipers of the Irish regiments of the British Army. Interestingly, in the Irish Defence Forces, a caubeen (worn by Cavalry regiments and pipers) is known as a "glengarry" (and completely different from the Scottish version). There is some evidence that the Royal Tank Regiment of the British Army adopted a beret based on the Scottish tam-o-shanter and the Chasseur beret because of the close-quarters of early tanks.

Apologies for being pedantic.

T.

[chrisupyonder]

I have jusr returned home after 6 weeks touring the Highlands and noticed this thread still running. While away, a lady about my age (65) serving in a jewelry shop in Strathpeffer

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=stra...4&vpsrc=6&z=12

She said to me it was nice to see someone wearing the kilt the correct length. She said many of the young locals wear their kilts at weekends to the pub or for a meal out but wear them too long so their knees are not showing. I said that is probably because they are buying kilts off the peg which usually have a standard length of 24 inches. She agreed that is probably the case but she said at least she is seeing more kilts in recent years but not as many as it was 40 years ago when most men wore kilts at weekend for the pub and church on Sunday. In her words she said the kilt industry in Scotland has priced itself out of the market and the hole is now being filled by cheap imports.

So what next for the kilt industry in Scotland? Yes, keep the high price and quality for the special occasion kilt but also supply what the younger Scots seem to want, a cheaper garment to wear to the pub/night out/football match.

When Lidl in Scotland stock kilts 3 or 4 times a year, they fly off the shelves within hours and it is the locals buying them so there is a market there.

So in answer to my own question, Why you don't see Scots wearing their kilts often
because they are too darn expensive. But times are changing.

Chris.

[Gael Ridire]

Twenty years ago I was attending Salt Lake City's "Living Traditions" festival. A three day event where all the ethnicity of the area come to share their culture with the community. A local pipe band was playing on stage with about 50 kilted standing around listening. A man approached me and in a Scottish brogue said to me, "I work for 3M and am here for a conference. I left me hotel for a walk and heard bagpipes playing. I though it was the high alltiude gettin' to me. So I followed the sound and here I find you all. Had I noon I'd a brought me kilt."

His name was John Bowie, chairman of the Fifeshire Games in Scotland. He went on to tell me of the sad state of Scottish culture where he lived. Nobody wore the kilt anymore. The media ragged on anything to do with tartan, clans, bagpipes, & ancient history. Society didn't want to recognize these things, but to let the world know that Scotland was an upward and mobile country. That Edinburgh was the Silicone Valley of Europe. He ended saying, "God bless ye Yanks! I can see that perhaps my culture might expire where I live, but it will continue elsewhere."

Now having the view given by the Highland Scots in previous blogs on how they see things, and the view of Lowlanders who live abroad and how they view things, and then there's we Americans of Scottish descent who want their society to know that they are of Scot descent and proud of it.

Whether the kilt is worn only for special occasions, or on weekends to the pub/church/restaurant, or every day. The kilt continues to evolve!