To kilt or not to kilt: A St. Paddy's Day conundrum

[BoldHighlander]

Part of me wishes to wear ma kilt that day as its expected of me, as was voiced by a number of people. And part of me wishes to spit at the idea of wearing my kilt as it is reinforcing a false stereotype.

Which stereotype is that?

This?









or This?









...wear the kilt Jamie

[BoldHighlander]

Yes, I can understand the confusion from my first post, I should have made myself more clear in the first place. I am just pleased that we can discuss diverging opinions in a civil matter on this board. Thank you for educating me more on Gung Haggis and your heritage.

BB

Indeed

and just for the record, while I'm primarily Ulster-Scots (or Scots-Irish) / Highland Scots, & Irish, I'm really a Hienz 57 with Cherokee, English, and wee amounts of German, Austrian & Swiss thrown in the mix

[highlander_Daz]

If you wear The Kilt for special occasions (weddings etc) , then st Pats is just another special occasion, by wearing The Kilt on st Pats, your not trying to suggest The Kilt is Irish, if people want to think that its up to them, ! when I was studying in England I wore my own Kilt and played the bagipes at a St. Georges day event, I wasnt trying to suggest that The Kilt was the national dress of England. (although English people seem to have adopted Burburry Tartan as their national dress) (JK)

There are a lot of cultural "crossovers" between Irish and Scots culture, language and music -and Irish/ Irish descended folk populate a large percentage of the west side of Scotland. even my own family, which has it roots around Avoch and Gairloch has a branch from Ireland, on a day of celebration wear whatever you feel comfortable, but by wearing the kilt your not purposly trying to suggest its "Oirish" if people think that your not going to change that view by steadfastly refusing to wear it

[Scotus]

although English people seem to have adopted Burburry Tartan as their national dress

Too funny!

[Jack Daw]

You won't be the only one in tartan kilt on St. Paddy's. Do it.

Afterall, the Irish are cousin to the Scots.

[starbkjrus]

I think if you wear the kilt on special occasions, and you feel that st paddy's day (or whatever event you may be attending for that day) qualifies as a special occasion, then there is no reason not to wear the kilt. ...snip

Hear Hear!

[McNulty]

I don't mean to be a stickler here BUT....
Every time I see someone say or write "St. Paddy's" day I shiver. The term "Paddy", being a derogatory, demeaning and downright racist remark, is being furthered as a connotation for a people by the uneducated and the ill-informed. Commercial interests like to play up those facts and further their interests by preying on that mis-information. Unfortunately, too many people feel the need to perpetuate the myth of the day. The day was set to honor the memory of a great man and the special things that he accomplished during his life. Wearing a kilt on St. Patrick's Day is a fit way to honor that person. We wear our kilts with pride, so why soil the same "fabric" by associating ourselves with and supporting this predjudicial terminology. It doesn't take that much more time to say or write St. Patrick.
Nulty
Caveat: I do not say NOR imply that any, here on this forum, are uneducated or ill-informed. T.E.

[Riverkilt]

Boy, am I a cultural boob regarding my own heritage then. I've always felt it was a term of friendliness and respect.

For sure other cultures have turned racist terms into terms of respect between each other.

Go figure...

Still have a hard time picturing friends fully enunciating "St. Patrick's Day."

Learned something today....

Ron

[fluter]

I'd wear the kilt for the feast of St. Andrew, St. David, St. Patrick, ... or St. Nicholas, and he was from Asia Minor IIRC.

For a different approach to the feast, anyone nearby is invited to join us on March 16th for Messiah. Actually it's that day because of Passiontide, but hey --- it was premiered in Dublin, and hopefully will be a commemoration that would not displease the good Saint.

[beowulf67]

Indeed

and just for the record, while I'm primarily Ulster-Scots (or Scots-Irish) / Highland Scots, & Irish, I'm really a Hienz 57 with Cherokee, English, and wee amounts of German, Austrian & Swiss thrown in the mix

In other words, typical American!!
I'm the same way. That's why we are the "Great American Melting Pot", at least that's what I learned from Schoolhouse Rock.

And as for the question of should you wear the kilt:
It's comfy
It looks sharp
Chicks dig it

I'm sorry, what was the question again?