At a celtic festival.. acceptable attire

[spucketts]

In my opinion a "festival" suggests an event that is circus-like and a Celtic Festival would celebrate all things Celtic, historical and present. That being said, wear what you want as you will see all things there. Something else to keep in mind, many don't have silver in pocket to drop on the total package, jacket, shoes, kilt, sporran, belt, etc, it can run ito several grand easy. Many are works in progress and they may be there wearing kilt with a tee or polo shirt. Others that are performing may not want to spend a weekend, especially in warmer climates, wearing their jacket and polished brogues and will revert to the comfort of more contemporary dress.

One thing I found that was totally non-traditional was the fried Oreos at the Stone Mountain Games here in Georgia. Oreo rolled in sweet dough, fried and sprinkled in powders sugar......I drool as I type!

[Zardoz]

Fringe subculture? What like guys wearing kilts?

Ya' know I personally would not wear a Klingon outfit outside of a Sci-Fi con, but the guy is wearing a kilt, so maybe he's just expressing more than one of the fringe subcultures he enjoys at the same time! Likewise Led Zeppelin t-shirt guy, who knew it wasn't cool to wear a kilt and like Zep too? I know I like both! And fairy girl? Offputting? Me, I think she's mighty cute, if she'd been in jeans and a t-shirt you wouldn't have taken the photo!

For the record, I go to a few German festivals, and while I think they've been Klingon free, I usually see a couple guys in kilts besides me, likely expressing their varied heritage. But I go to a Japan fest here in town that often has many folks in anime costumes running around, but it's not a big deal since that's one of Japan's biggest imports.

Honestly, deep down I'm not a fan of wearing 'fiction based' garb out of context. So I don't get why folks want to wear sci-fi or renfaire garb to Celtic fests, or faire garb to the sci-fi con for that matter. I think it bugs me most that renfaire is becoming a costume free for all, with the steampunk fad being the most noticable of late. But it's a free country so far, and there is little we can do about it other than try to be a good example. And I certainly don't let these oddities turn me away or spoil my own expression of heritage or fandom at given events.

[Father Bill]

Fringe subculture? What like guys wearing kilts?

Ya' know I personally would not wear a Klingon outfit outside of a Sci-Fi con, but the guy is wearing a kilt, so maybe he's just expressing more than one of the fringe subcultures he enjoys at the same time! Likewise Led Zeppelin t-shirt guy, who knew it wasn't cool to wear a kilt and like Zep too? I know I like both! And fairy girl? Offputting? Me, I think she's mighty cute, if she'd been in jeans and a t-shirt you wouldn't have taken the photo!

For the record, I go to a few German festivals, and while I think they've been Klingon free, I usually see a couple guys in kilts besides me, likely expressing their varied heritage. But I go to a Japan fest here in town that often has many folks in anime costumes running around, but it's not a big deal since that's one of Japan's biggest imports.

Honestly, deep down I'm not a fan of wearing 'fiction based' garb out of context. So I don't get why folks want to wear sci-fi or renfaire garb to Celtic fests, or faire garb to the sci-fi con for that matter. I think it bugs me most that renfaire is becoming a costume free for all, with the steampunk fad being the most noticable of late. But it's a free country so far, and there is little we can do about it other than try to be a good example. And I certainly don't let these oddities turn me away or spoil my own expression of heritage or fandom at given events.

Ah yes, the "Free Country" argument. Free to offend others, but not free from being offended by others. It's a minor offense if at all, but it seems to me a spurious argument.

[spucketts]

Several years ago I had a conversation with a gentleman at ahighland game who was dressed to celebrate his personal heritage. He wore akilt of his family’s tartan along with a sporran and belt along with a brightred blouse with a vest, headgear, and footwear typical of what would have beenworn by members of the Cherokee Nation of which he was descended. It was very striking and I felt veryappropriate for the occasion.

[mookien]

Nothing wrong with self expression, as long as it's in an appropriate context. When it's inappropriate for the event, and especially when it's done en masse by a fringe subculture, it can be frustrating for those who actually prefer the event to be what it was originally supposed to be. Having cultural events hijacked by weirdos and fantasy role players is highly disrespectful. Like Klingons - surely these guys have plenty of sci-fi events and comic-cons to go to in order to get their jollies, without detracting from a celebration of someone's actual heritage? I think it's great if they want to dress up like Klingons and have fun making spectacles of themselves, but what makes them choose a Celtic festival for this? Do they also invade German festivals or Chinese festivals?

That's exactly how I feel when a bus load of Baptists show up at our Catholic church. They take communion is such an outlandish way - trans vs. con and all that.

[Zardoz]

America is cultivating a 'culture of offense' where as groups and individuals, folks seem to work on being offended. Me, I save my reactions for the big offences, not sweating the small stuff.

[Dung Trumpet]

But it's a free country so far,

And that means I'm also free to either shake my head or laugh.

"1st Battalion McHairy Highlanders present and correct, sir".

[Father Bill]

And that means I'm also free to either shake my head or laugh.

"1st Battalion McHairy Highlanders present and correct, sir".

Well said, sir!

[Zardoz]

And that means I'm also free to either shake my head or laugh.

Absolutely, I do every day.

Zardoz' deep thought for the day;

If you expect others to think, dress or behave in certain ways, or assume others will feel the same as you, then get offended when they don’t rise to the level of your expectation, you will almost always be offended or on the verge of it. Instead, just do as you do allow other people to as well .

[Tobus]

Fringe subculture? What like guys wearing kilts?

Heh, well, yes! I would argue (and have argued on this forum) that wearing a kilt to certain events is inappropriate. Even though we enjoy wearing it, we have to realise that it's not the norm.

Honestly, deep down I'm not a fan of wearing 'fiction based' garb out of context. So I don't get why folks want to wear sci-fi or renfaire garb to Celtic fests, or faire garb to the sci-fi con for that matter. I think it bugs me most that renfaire is becoming a costume free for all, with the steampunk fad being the most noticable of late. But it's a free country so far, and there is little we can do about it other than try to be a good example. And I certainly don't let these oddities turn me away or spoil my own expression of heritage or fandom at given events.

Well, I agree with you on the renfaire thing going down the tubes too. And again, I think it comes back to fringe subcultures trying to hijack an event. While it may be 'fun' or humorous to show up at a renfaire wearing a stormtrooper outfit, it detracts from the theme of the event. And over time, as more people start doing it, it completely spoils the intent. The faire stops being about the Renaissance and starts becoming a freak show. The organisers may not care as long as they're making money, but there are a lot of people who get driven out of their particular hobby. Even a lukewarm fan such as myself will stop going. If I wanted to see stormtroopers, I'd have gone to a comic-con. But I go to the renfaire to see Renaissance reenacting. If I feel it's no longer doing that, then I'll stop going.

Free country? Of course. I would never suggest that someone doesn't have the right to do that, unless the property owner or organiser objects. But the real issue here is manners. It's simply bad form to intentionally hijack an event that someone went to a lot of trouble (and spent a lot of money) to make happen. And it creates an atmosphere of competition between subcultures to see who can get out and represent their group the most.

Where does it all lead? Will we be seeing Furries at the next San Antonio Rodeo and Livestock Show? Will we see hordes of blue-painted, half-naked Pandorans at the next Christmas concert in the town square? Does our society really have any expectations of appropriateness any more, or do we as a culture value "anything goes, as long as you're self-expressing" above all else? It's worth pondering, anyway. There's a certain 'mission creep' in this sort of phenomenon.