"Ritualistic circumstances"?

[Bugbear]

Ok, CMcG, I can see the link between ritual and symbol or semiotics. What are these kilt rituals, or rituals involving the kilt? That is what is interesting about the subject to me and the main reason I looked in this thread.

Which specific rituals require a kilt?

I don't think that question is off topic or problematic with the ruels of the forum.

[CMcG]

Ok, CMcG, I can see the link between ritual and symbol or semiotics. What are these kilt rituals, or rituals involving the kilt? That is what is interesting about the subject to me and the main reason I looked in this thread.

Which specific rituals require a kilt?

I don't think that question is off topic or problematic with the ruels of the forum.

Yes, that is well within the purview of this forum

I haven't read the book that Chris quoted from in the OP but I'll hazard my best guess. The reference to kilts in ritualistic contexts probably refers to two different situations. The first is when the kilt is worn as part of a uniform. A performance by a pipeband or a Highland regiment being called to inspection are types of rituals. In these situations, men wearing unbifurcated garments are not only expected, but required.

The second example is somewhat more nebulous. The kilt as ethnic or national attire also has status as a sort of ritual object that is not bound by the standard Western conventions of gendered clothing. The kilt in Scotland, worn for weddings, to church, clan events, Highland games, or to football matches is perfectly acceptable.

Here is where it gets tricky though; when the Scottish kilt is worn outside of Scotland, it becomes a semiotically more dense sign.

Some people continue to wear the kilt as THCD but as ethnic Scots and not Scottish nationals. Here the ritual link is most strong when the kilt is worn for the same type of events and in the same way as it is in the Highlands. The further away from the ethnic or nationalistic ritual of kilt wearing one gets, the more tenuous the ritual justification for breaking gender codes becomes. At that point the kilt becomes polysemic as its clarifying context is disturbed. In other words, people wonder "why is this person wearing a kilt?"

Of course people can wear a kilt for all kinds of reasons, not just ritualistic ones. But how many of our members have experienced some sort of scorn when they trod on societies mores without the shield of ritual?