American in Scotland

[Jordan]

Snip: I probably have seen I have to admit that I thought you were going to show me one of those modern cut, plain coloured things with pockets etc. that is called a kilt because no one can find another definition for them. I can't either,by the way. (Jock now prepares to be shot!). Anyway those modern kilt things are most cerainly not worn by the locals and I most certainly have never seen one of those worn up here.As to the Semi trad that you have shown in the picture,I know of no locals that own one-----yet?

Jock you need to head down to Elgin sometime I am quite often seen wandering around the shops (when I have a free weekend) in my Uk original in black or my denim Union Kilt

Jordan

[Jock Scot]

I do pop over that way,on occasion,maybe we will bump into each other. Mine's a Talisker!

[Jordan]

first Rounds on me then

[beowulf67]

Brilliant! You bet Always good to have a friend there. I have been crossing my fingers to make this July for The Gathering, but actually I hope to live in Scotland and tour my music from there. We'll see where the watercourse leads!

Slainte, Mate!

Jonathan,
I've annoyed the heck out of Jock about my upcoming trip to Scotland and he has been most helpful! And patient.
I'll be taking some kilts but don't know how often I'll be wearing them.

I guess it depends on how many flat caps and pairs of white socks I can get before I go.

[The Barry]

I guess it depends on how many flat caps and pairs of white socks I can get before I go.

LOL.. This never gets old to me!

[Jock Scot]

Jonathan,
I've annoyed the heck out of Jock about my upcoming trip to Scotland and he has been most helpful! And patient.
I'll be taking some kilts but don't know how often I'll be wearing them.

I guess it depends on how many flat caps and pairs of white socks I can get before I go.

Annoy me? Oh come on, its been all good fun as far as I am concerned.I am sorry that I have not got around to some more suggestions for things for you to see on your trip. I thought I would give you a while to digest my suggestions,so far.I know, excuses,excuses! There is more to come.

[Woot22]

I don't know at what time of year you last walked the West Highland Way, but summer is prime midgie time, they can make life hell!

I walked the West Highland Way in June of 2001 and the midgie's were terrible. I still had a blast and would do it again in a heart beat. But they were absolutely terrible the minute you stopped walking. If you kept moving you were fine, but once you stopped they were all over you. I saw a couple of locals wearing the kilt while walking the trail and they looked like they were having a good time. Sorry to take this off topic. Just saw Jock Scot's post and started to reminisce.

[beowulf67]

Annoy me? Oh come on, its been all good fun as far as I am concerned.I am sorry that I have not got around to some more suggestions for things for you to see on your trip. I thought I would give you a while to digest my suggestions,so far.I know, excuses,excuses! There is more to come.

You are too kind! And you have been most helpful.

(And I WAS kidding about the white hose and flat caps while kilted)

[wvpiper]

Exactly. They were regional before the 1800's. And they were only regional because the various clans living there used the natural dyes that they had on hand- and therefore used whatever happened to be most prevelent for their region! Which I also suspect may have been part of the justification for the idea of tartan as clan identifiers. BUT that's just speculation. I have no facts to back that thought up.

It's true early tartan would have been made from whatever dyes were available locally. Kilts were tartan, or solid, and members of the clan could where different tartans, or none at all.
It would be more accurate,though perhaps not entirely so, that clan identification or allegiance was historically made by the type of plant one stuck in his cap. Not until the industrial revolution,and the invention of the loom, was it possible to produce the same pattern over and over again with any sort of reliability. An early kilt maker started giving his patterns clan names, and bada boom, clan tartan was born. Victoria liked her Highland chiefs to visit in their 'clan' tartan, and soon they all started looking for it. To be sure, that makes many of them near 200 years old, but there's no record or historical basis for clan tartan. Tradition,yes, history, no.
Anywho, it is tradition, and if the Scots only wear one tartan, so be it.

[fortcollinsjerry]

I'd like to wear my Utilikilt while traveling and switch to the family colors when I get there. Think I'll catch hell in that american invention?