Kilts in Church

[Draelore]

Alas, we are rapidly loosing the distinction between a lady and a homo sapien female. It seems no one wants to train the latter to behave like the former.

Andy

[thatcelticband]

Shame... My church loves it when I wear my kilt. However, I was playing a gig with Liam at a country club for St. Paddys one year when a well seasoned woman came to us and went on and on about her root etc... and later my wife overheard her bashing us for wearing kilts. Just goes to show you, you cant buy class!

[ThreadBbdr]

The very, very first time I saw a man in full kilt with all the bells and whistles was in church! I was about 6 or so and have loved the look ever since. My grandfather, though very proud of his heritage, didn't wear a kilt.

There is this dear older gentleman at our current parish used to wear his full rig for Easter and Christmas and St. Andrew's day. But when I asked him to wear it for Tartan Day this year, he demured. He is recovering from chemo and in his heavy Glasgow accent, he lamented that "m' legs are no' so bonny these days." He's also had to shave off a truely remarkable double corkscrew handlebar mustache.

I adore Mr. C and at one point he rather paid court to my widowed mother. Nothing came of it, though.

[McFarkus]

Alas, we are rapidly loosing the distinction between a lady and a homo sapien female. It seems no one wants to train the latter to behave like the former.
Andy

My mother used to say, "a lady is NEVER unintentionally rude." Apparently this woman doesn't know how to behave like a lady.

Folks in my parish look forward to me wearing a kilt. We have a 5k race (a fundraising benefit for our food pantry and the health clinic at the local public high school) this coming Sunday. I'll be a race "marshal" (making sure people turn in the correct direction on the course) and will be kilted. It's quite an event with about 3,500 runners running through a city neighborhood with the church service following the race (no, we don't get all the runners at the service - we only hold about 300 with SRO)

[sharpdressedscot]

Odd, you'd think as a Scot she'd appreciate people wearing the kilt... Go figure.

[nightchild336]

its a shame even in the church someone insists on being judgmental. hopefully your pastor gave a thorough talking to about appropriate behavior. everyone at my church looks forward to me wearing my kilt, and i am a lay teacher there so i guess its just some people.

[Retro Red]

An unpleasant reaction by that woman, for sure. However, just as hospitals are a gathering place for the physically infirm & injured, I often have to remind myself that churches are a gathering place for the spiritually infirm & injured. I pray that her spirit may find healing.

.

[Frank McGrath]

Well, good news. I just got back from dinner with my lovely wife. I had donned the kilt to take her to the doctor, and then on the dinner. On the way out, in the parking lot, we ran into the nicest lady I think I've met yet. She was from Ireland and still had the accent. She had nice comments about the kilt and asked the clan. I told her MacRae and immediatly her eyes perked up. She said she has friends in Antrim named McGrath. We had a nice conversation about clans and septs. I gave her my card with Xmarks on the back. She said she would pass it on to the McGraths in Ireland. What a lovely woman. And such a beautiful accent. The kilt. A great way to start a conversation. Made My Day.

[Tartan Hiker]

There are many in my church that have never seen me in pants.

And since the discussion has turned to conversations in general...

At the pub last Sunday I was sporting my new Carolina box-pleat. A table full of folks were obviously very interested in it as I walked by. One of the gentlemen (70ish) stood up and walked over with hand extended. Turns out he and five others were visiting from Aberdeen. They complimented me on the outfit, were delighted that I (and others) wear kilts regularly, and were very interested in both the box pleats and the tartan. Delightful conversation ensued.

I thought about starting a thread on this idea, but I'll just hop in here since it seems appropriate....

Many posters in past threads have expressed the sentiment that one should "know some of the history associated with a tartan you wear". I couldn't agree more. This conversation would have been very different if:

A) I had not known the history of the inspiration and development of the Carolina tartan,

B) I had not known the history of the box-pleated kilt and could site dates and the "evolutionary sequence" of the modern tailored kilt, and

C) I had not presented myself as knowledgeable without being smug/obnoxious/pompous/etc.

So, I may be preaching to the choir here, but I'm advocating that one should definitely do their "homework" before striding out into public. Read Matt Newsome's articles (that's where most of my information was gleaned!) and other sources to accumulate information on your own highland attire. You never know when you'll be in need of answers!

[Frank McGrath]

We have just hired a husband/wife team as co-senior pastors. It's been tough for them to get used to me. But I guess it's working. The other sunday, I was in jeans. Pastor walks up and says, "I didn't recognize you in pants." The whole room got quiet and the North American Blue Hairs all stared, quite puzzeled. The two of us just bust out laughing and walked away.