Comments from a 'friend'

[hospitaller]

If it was me, I would just tell her I had become a transevestite and let it go at that.

haha, not a bad idea. what with us probably never seing each other again (me in the US, her in Southern Chile)

I simply sent her a message expanding on my scottish ancestry, traditional dress and traditions and left it at that.

[macwilkin]

Exactly that. No organized attempts at anything. No Clans, no Highland Games, no Saint Andrew celebration, nothing.

That society was more about wealthy families getting together and publicizing their scottish ancestry. It is sadly, a common situation in Chile, where if your family has a 'foreign' surname, somehow makes it worthy of respect and advancement. I know because I lived there for 30 years.

That's correct. But that is Argentina, not Chile.

Those are taught in Chilean history in school, but again, somehow the connection between scotsmen and kilts is not made....because there has never been a highland game, or festival or a clan gathering as such to promote and educate the chilean population about it.

Hector,

I didn't mean to imply that you were incorrect; Obviously information on such an organization is scarce here in the United States. I do have a book at home by Michael Turnbull which discusses some of the many St. Andrew/Caledonian/Burns Societies around the world, and I believe it may discuss some of the activities of a society in Chile.

Generally, St. Andrew/Caledonian Societies were "mutual-aid" societies for recently-arrived immigrants which also held events such as Burns Suppers and St. Andrew's Balls for their members.

I salute your efforts to educate your countrymen on Scottish heritage. Please let me know if I can do anything to assist you.

Con respecto,

Todd

[Abax]

I have heard others say that Spanish does not include a word for which the literal translation is "kilt." Is this true and could that be part of the problem?

Abax

[hospitaller]

I have heard others say that Spanish does not include a word for which the literal translation is "kilt." Is this true and could that be part of the problem?

Abax

That is true.

In fact, the bagpipe even has a completely different name in Spanish, instead of anything remotely connected with 'pipes', the spanish word for a bagpipe is 'gaita'

So a piper/bagpiper is known as a 'gaitero'

And a 'gaitero' is known not to wear a kilt as part of the uniform, but rather a 'falda', which is the spanish word for....you guessed it...'skirt'

[hospitaller]

Hector,

I didn't mean to imply that you were incorrect; Obviously information on such an organization is scarce here in the United States. I do have a book at home by Michael Turnbull which discusses some of the many St. Andrew/Caledonian/Burns Societies around the world, and I believe it may discuss some of the activities of a society in Chile.

Generally, St. Andrew/Caledonian Societies were "mutual-aid" societies for recently-arrived immigrants which also held events such as Burns Suppers and St. Andrew's Balls for their members.

I salute your efforts to educate your countrymen on Scottish heritage. Please let me know if I can do anything to assist you.

Con respecto,

Todd

I understand Todd and no offense or misinterpretation was taken/made.

I'm sure that in the 17th century and onwards when some of the earliest scots were coming to Chile, and a Saint Andrews was formed its purpose was as you described it.

But in modern Chile, any and all European originated surname family Societies with connections to their countries of origin, are more about, as I mentioned above, advance their local interests rather than actively promote their actual heritage and culture.

One distinction would be that of the Basque community, which does have a Celtic Mussic scene, several events throughout the year, educational activites, etc.

But as for the rest...nil, zip, nada.

I will take you on your offer if you dont mind, as I am currently gearing to attend several local highland games and events in order to learn as much as I can so I can start planning something to introduce them in Chile.

That would be a fantastic prospect to have new kilties in droves from South America.

cheers

[Nighthawk]

I have, good thing is they do exist.
Sad thing is they are fairly new (2-3 years old) and again, since there are no Scot events to go to and promote...all they do is mostly travel abroad and maybe go to Valparaiso once a year to the Navy monument.

This is by the way something I am actively pursuing, organize the Youngs in Chile and start the chilean chapter of the Clan, and then maybe next year organize the first Highland Games ever in Chile.

Now that would be an education for Chile and chileans.

Wow!! If I could go to that, I would! How cool that would be!

[Nick the DSM]

really??!! my mother is from chile and thats where i get my scottish heritage from. what part? my family still lives in santiago.

sweet, now i know three chilean-scots.

[Nick the DSM]

I have, good thing is they do exist.
Sad thing is they are fairly new (2-3 years old) and again, since there are no Scot events to go to and promote...all they do is mostly travel abroad and maybe go to Valparaiso once a year to the Navy monument.

This is by the way something I am actively pursuing, organize the Youngs in Chile and start the chilean chapter of the Clan, and then maybe next year organize the first Highland Games ever in Chile.

Now that would be an education for Chile and chileans.

maybe my family and i could help. especially my great uncle, im sure he could helpful in this.

[Stratherrick]

Here's one guy in a kilt in Chile!

http://blog.mountainhardwear.com/200...ing_chaos.html

Cheers

Bruce

[LANCER1562]

My landlady who is from El Salvador and has never learned English keeps refering to my kilts as "skirts" since there is no word in Spanish for kilt. Could this be the situation with your "friend" or is she just ignorant of kilts and Scottish culture?