Food For Thought Two(F4T2)

[madmacs]

If this is true, then the vast majority of Scots in this particular demographic are wearing their kilts at least once a week. That seems to differ from the impression that many of us have taken, that Scots only don their kilts very rarely.

50+ times a year would have me thinking that more than a few may wear them to church...

[Jock Scot]

50+ times a year would have me thinking that more than a few may wear them to church...

I doubt that church enters into the mind of many of those of that age. Congregations are on the wane, so I am told.

It is quite easy for the kilt to be worn in the Highlands without anyone knowing. For example there were 110 chaps wearing the kilt the other evening and not one uninvited member of the public would have seen them!

[Mark Stephenson]

Jock -
Looks like you will survive the aftermath of survey #2! Thanks for all that you do to make this forum interesting and to enlighten the rest of us about Highland culture.

[Jock Scot]

Jock -
Looks like you will survive the aftermath of survey #2! Thanks for all that you do to make this forum interesting and to enlighten the rest of us about Highland culture.

Well the computer has not melted yet!

I will sleep with a trusty Webley MK VI under the pillow though, for the foreseeable future, just in case a hit squad arrives.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Thanks for posting the results, Jock! I am, like others, encouraged by the young age of the respondents and also the frequency that they seem to be wearing the kilt.

I am surprised (as I was in the last survey), that the great majority of them could not even tell you if their own kilt, which they were wearing, was pleated to the stripe or to the sett. This is not meant as a criticism, but it does shed light on the responses to a few other questions. If one does not know such basics of kilt construction as the difference between pleating to stripe or sett, then it does not surprise me that they would be unfamiliar with box pleated kilts and district tartans.

It seems to me that this group of young lads exhibit more practical knowledge of kilt wearing in the Highlands today, rather than academic knowledge.

The question of ethinic/national identity and who should be wearing the kilt is one that rears its head from time to time, and one which will never be answered satisfactorily, as we all have different perspectives.

To give an idea of what I mean by that, consider that I was born and raised (till I was 18) in the great urban metropolis of Charlotte, NC, the largest city in our state. I moved up to the rural mountain region of western NC after I graduated from high school. I have now lived in this area for longer than I lived in Charlotte. This is where all of my children were born and are being raised, and I have no intentions to live elsewhere if I can help it. It is my home.

But am I a "local?" Depends on who you ask.

We have an interesting mix of native local residents and newcomers in this area. Those born and bred from local families would not consider me a local, regardless of how long I have lived here, because I do not come from a "local family." On the other hand, most everyone else now considers me "from here." Especially those who have moved here from outwith the state. They do consider me "local" because, unlike them, I am a native North Carolinian.

As for myself, this is most definitely home for me, though I do not pretend to have the same relationship with the region as those whose families have been here for 200 years. But that's ok - my family was not in Charlotte for 200 years, either.

I suspect there may be similar attitudes in places such as Scotland who also have a mix of newcomers and local population. Only add to that mix the fact that Scotland has also exported much of her population across the globe to places as far flung as Cape Breton, Cape Fear, Australia and Argentina!

[Cygnus]

Thank you, Jock, for taking the time and putting in the effort to gather and compile these fascinating results.

Please pass my sincere thanks to your friends and family for taking the time to share their insight and experience with us.

[AKScott]

Neat stuff Jock. Thanks for caring enough and taking the time to have undertaken it.

[BCAC]

Neat survey, but I think that you are all reading too much into it. As Jock said this is not to be taken for the views of Scotland as a whole.

Talking of nationalities with respect to place of birth, all of you consider "our" Jock Scot (even if you only know him 'virtually' through this web site) as a true Highland Scotsman despite the fact that he was born elsewhere.

I was born in Scotland but, thanks to a long military service and the lack of jobs since returning to civvy street, I've lived outwith Scotland for longer than I'd ever lived there. As the saying goes "you can take the man out of Scotland, but you can't take Scotland out of the man".

What was that other saying that someone famous said in the US? Something about if a cat had kittens in the oven, you wouldn't call them biscuits.

Home is where your heart is.

Thanks again for this Jock, it is indeed FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

[Ayrshire]

Jock,

Thank you for the great survey and your gift to the kilt wearing community.

I found several items curious; especially, when compared to the previous survey.

24. What kind of head wear would you consider appropriate, to be worn with the civilian kilt?(tick many)
Balmoral: 110
Glengarry: 110

I have always viewed the Glengarry as a military bonnet (for right or wrong) and have chosen not to wear one. Compared to the previous survey it seems that the younger generations are more open to wearing the glengarry. Speaking as a member of the younger generation perhaps I should lighten up a bit.

On questions 9, 10 and 15; it would appear the younger generation considers the kilt “theirs”. I have seen this issue being a matter of some lengthy (and polite!*) debates and discussions on this board.

My take away from all this is that I will continue to wear my kilt with pride. I am proud of my Scottish and American heritage and will embrace both. However if I travel to Scotland the kilt will stay off. When in Rome. I would not discourage any other fellow members of the diaspora to do the same. My opinion is mine alone.

Thanks again for this contribution. The survey was very enlightening.

Tom

*I was always told polite conversations on the internet were a myth.

[Jock Scot]

Jock,

Thank you for the great survey and your gift to the kilt wearing community.

I found several items curious; especially, when compared to the previous survey.



I have always viewed the Glengarry as a military bonnet (for right or wrong) and have chosen not to wear one. Compared to the previous survey it seems that the younger generations are more open to wearing the glengarry. Speaking as a member of the younger generation perhaps I should lighten up a bit.

On questions 9, 10 and 15; it would appear the younger generation considers the kilt “theirs”. I have seen this issue being a matter of some lengthy (and polite!*) debates and discussions on this board.

My take away from all this is that I will continue to wear my kilt with pride. I am proud of my Scottish and American heritage and will embrace both. However if I travel to Scotland the kilt will stay off. When in Rome. I would not discourage any other fellow members of the diaspora to do the same. My opinion is mine alone.

Thanks again for this contribution. The survey was very enlightening.

Tom

*I was always told polite conversations on the internet were a myth.

Actually the "Head wear" question posed was about "appropriate head wear". Had they been asked what they actually wear on their head, the answer would probably have been: "nothing"!