What the kilt means to you

[gilmore]

Even though some of my Scots ancestors, the Gilmores, came to the colonies over 250 years ago, their stories were passed down to the present day. Being in the American South, we are great story tellers. Some of them have the added advantage of being true. My immediate family has been doing genealogical research for some 30 years, other relatives for much longer than that, that has borne out the stories more or less. How the research results varies from the stories can be interesting too, in its own way. At any rate having spent years sorting out truth from fantasy, I am extremely reluctant to wear clan tartan that I do not have some direct connection with, notwithstanding that almost all clan tartans developed after my ancestors left Scotland. District tartans from the areas that my ancestors came from are fine enough for me.

The other reason to wear kilts is comfort. They are the second or third most comfortable men's garment I have worn.