When and where did you see your first kilt?

**unixken** · 9th February 12, 05:32 PM

As a newbie to this web site, I've been reading a lot of posts, trying to absorb all the kilt-karma I can before my first kilt arrives (expected in about 6 weeks.)

While reading, I some times notice, or look for, where some of the posters live, or note comments they make in their posts, and I wonder when and where some of us first saw a kilt and thought "that is so cool!"

Myself, I can say it was back in the late 60's. My family and I were vacationing in Ottawa. My father took us to see the Changing Of The Guard ceremony, at Parliament Hill. I was probably about 6 or so, at the time. I knew we were of Scottish ancestry, but had never before seen a kilt (or bagpipes!), other than perhaps in some old photographs. To see them pass right in front of me, in all their regimental glory, was something I've never forgotten.

Several years later I was privileged to see a performance by The Black Watch, and again, I was enthralled.

Today I'm 50 years old, and have decided that it's finally time I take that intrigue I felt as a kid, to a whole new level. My order has been placed. And now I wait... LOL

So what's your "first time I saw a kilt and knew this was something special" story?

**Peter Crowe** · 9th February 12, 05:38 PM

I honestly can't remember, as my father was always a man who wore the kilt from boyhood, and I got my first kilt (with a cotton bodice) when I was three years old sometime in late 1969 early 1970.

**unixken** · 9th February 12, 05:47 PM

Oh, and Peter... I was born on the South Shore of Mass. (Born in Weymouth, grew up in Quincy and Braintree.)

**Peter Crowe** · 9th February 12, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by unixken

Oh, and Peter... I was born on the South Shore of Mass. (Born in Weymouth, grew up in Quincy and Braintree.)

Indeed, kilts are not often seen around here (Lynn), I grew up with them in Scotland.

**drum bum** · 11th February 12, 10:55 AM

Hey I grew up in Quincy too! Wollaston! Saw my first kilts worn by the local Emerald Society pipe bands. I've always loved the looks and the music.

**Bugbear** · 9th February 12, 05:49 PM

Wish I could remember, but it would have been when I was a kid. I do seem to remember having seen pipers wearing kilts at events a few times. Other than that, it would have been in pictures and movies etc.

**John McQuillen** · 9th February 12, 05:57 PM

Probably sometimes in the first few years of my life.....by age 13 I was wearing my own as part of school uniform.

**rondo** · 9th February 12, 06:16 PM

I'd seen a few on pipers and in pictures but it was not until I was in Dunoon, Scotland [Navy] that i saw my first kilt in the wilds...

I knew we were of Scottish decent but it wasn't until then that the kilt bug bit me. Then it took 20 some years before I got my first kilt.
Rondo

**Standard** · 12th February 12, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

Wish I could remember, but it would have been when I was a kid. I do seem to remember having seen pipers wearing kilts at events a few times. Other than that, it would have been in pictures and movies etc.

Same story for me too.

**NeightRG** · 9th February 12, 05:52 PM

This would have been before the age of five, so there's a good chance the story is nowhere near accurate, but the first time that I have any memory of seeing kilts in person, I was at a shopping center with my mother and our neighbor from down the street, when a pipe band marched through the place.
Funny thing is, I strongly remember being hurried away from the band... Presumably to save my young ears from the loud volume, because my mum definitely has no problem with bagpipe music.