History of the Kilt

[bubba]

Personally, I think the Rawlinson story is just the English trying to horn in on the Scots again.

[wolfgang]

Christopher Schiebel's homepage is informative and entertaining as well:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/kissyfurr

Among others there are extensive information about Kilt history.

[dan]

Thanks for all the replies - interesting.

So summing all this up and despite the line above ie: "I'm not sure how one goes about banning something that doesn't exist" it seems as if the modern kilt is an invention of the english and popularized by queen victoria.... ie the feileadh mór (big wrap) was replaced by the English invention of, and fashion for, the feileadh beag (little wrap)....

[eg see http://www.geocities.com/sconemac/queenv.html: "most of southern Scotland never owned or wore a tartan until Queen Victoria made it a necessary item to be worn at ther parties and dances or any occasion she demanded. (Researched and partially written by Clans Gunn, MacLeods of Lewis and Keith]

and

[based on research by Sir John Sinclair, renowned Highland Dress researcher (writing in 1830).. What we think of as 'the kilt' today was invented in 1725 by an Englishman. Thomas Rawlinson, owner of an iron works in Glengarie and Lochaber.

Why is it then that the scots are so proud of the english little kilt when the older kilt (which is very different and presumably is the one which was "banned") is in fact their history. It sems rather obscene when you think of the resurge in scottish national pride and consider that the little kilt was pretty well forced on the Scots by the english (through "proscription" etc)

Maybe it is time that a bit more history and a little less commercialism/pop versions of culture came into play

Any thoughts?

[bubba]

Well dan, as I said, I suspect Rawlinson noticed Scots wearing some sort of halfkilt while doing manual labor and adapted it for his own purposes. Patterned fabrics have been in use by the Celts near forever, though not neccesarily what we think of as tartans today. My own opinion is that the English more or less preempted it and the association of specific patterns with clans and families was entirely the invention of clothmakers looking for an easy profit. Before the Victorian period no such associations existed. Patterns were whatever local weavers were making and colors limited by whatever dyes were available in any given area. The only association being that the more colors in the pattern the higher status and more wealth the wearer had.

[dan]

You guys know a lot - can I ask you a supplementary question?

Given the highland clearances, proscription etc and the general persecutuon of the Scots by the english and their move out of Scotland or to the towns (early 1800's???) do you think there is any connection between this and the huge numbers of "sink estates" in Edinburgh and the like.. ie is there a cultural link? There does seem to be an incredibly high level of poverty and helplesness in the very large underclass in Scottish cities... what do you think is the root of it? (ie is Wester Hailes Scotland's equivalent of an american indian reservation??)

I'd be interested in any ideas you might have on this or any references eg books websites etc

Thanks

Dan

[bubba]

The Clearances aren't a big subject in my family history. My kin came to America in 1640. The period of the Clearances I haven't much looked into at this point.

[Alaskan Celt]

[Alaskan Celt]

[Blu (Ontario)]

So Dan... Now that you've had a chance to review the kilt history question with our experts, I'm curious about your remark regarding Scottish "institutionalised transvestism". You obviously had some interest or concern in the matter, yet this issue seems to have been set aside. Who are you quoting?

blu

[bubba]

Transvestism? Tell that to Sir Sean Sorry, but I don't wear womens clothing. No sir, no bras or panties for me.