Lederhosen and Kilts as a Costume.

[jeremy j starche]

I like that. Is it really "unfortunate"? These affairs are festivals after all.

I believe that it is unfortunate. If we want to hold a festival [3. Revelry; conviviality.], we can hold those at any time and for any reason.

Celebrate anything -- like every Friday during the summer we have "Rocking on the River" known to the locals as "Drunk on the River."

The purpose: Listen to loud music and get drunk.

But with "themed" festivals [2. An often regularly recurring program of cultural performances, exhibitions, or competitions.] then I really believe there should be more ... well ... culture.

Which takes me back to wanting lederhosen.

At the Irish Fest, a number of people wear kilts with varying degrees of good taste and digression.

At the German Fest, I've only seen lederhosen once and the man wearing them looked GOOD.

M'Lady, born in Northern Italy, tells me that Italy doesn't really have any "national dress" and historically hasn't really been a nation. I take her word for it since her knowledge of that area is much better than mine.

[Galician]

I too have a Germanic surname, so I attended the Steuben Day Parade and celebration here in NYC a few weeks ago, kilted, as I did last year. Many of the marchers were bands come over from Germany, so there was LOTS of Trachten there that day!

After a stay in Bavaria many years ago, I have sometimes considered getting lederhosen. But I find the kilt soooo much more comfortable!


Btw, this girl did try to find out what was under my kilt



How's this for a discussion on feathers?

[Frank McGrath]

I have worn my kilt to German, Polish, Redneck, and Irish festivals. I have had nothing but favorable comments at each. On the whole, I think that anyone at a festival is in a party mood and would vbe accepting of almost anything. I have seen people dressed in outfits that, I would not be caught dead in, trying to "look the part". And that includes kilts.

Party on, but be respectable of others' culture.

[drobin]

We too wore our kilts last year.

That was one of the best nights, had a blast. The lines were stupid, but the company was great. That polka band was really, really good.

[MacDonnell1973]

I myself share the German-Scottish lineage and feel that you can't beat the genuine article. If you can't afford the German ensemble, then where your kilt and show that pride as well. Or simply go and hold your head high for sharing in the festivities.

Slainte,

Bill

[saharris]

Despite having a Scottish last name (Harris, as in the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides and the Clan MacLeod), I actually have no Scottish blood. My mother’s family is Irish (O'Callaghan from Munster) and my father’s family is German, actually Prussian (von Hillis from the Black Forest or “Schwarzwald” region). My dad’s dad was adopted by a Harris in Ohio, and that’s from where the name comes.

Anyway, I would wear my kilt to an Oktoberfest in a heartbeat! If I have time and funds, I would get a new kilt one of the many “German” heritage tartans:
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/qRe...hString=german

Have a Märzenbier for me!

[Sammac]

Having some German on my mom's side, I finally went to an OctoberFest a couple weeks ago. Had a good time. They even had a couple of German beers that were N/A. Seems like they had a toast every 15 minutes. Listened to a group that played Alphorns, amazing. Thinking about some lederhosen now. Wonder if Rocky sells those too.

[GDub]

Lederhosen are very cool, but they're NOT as comfortable as the kilt. That's why (kinda sorta) I've gone kilted to the last couple of Oktoberfests we've attended. "Attended" meaning we were the entertainment. The first time I wore my USAK Ramsay 5 yarder. Seemed appropriate because the Bavarian flag is blue and white. This past weekend I threw all caution to the wind and wore my Tara/Murphy USAK semi trad with a red shirt and black beret. I got LOTS of compliments, though the first was from a couple who regularly attend highland games who said, "Didn't you read the sign? This is an Oktoberfest." All in good fun, BTW. Hell, at this point, I'd go kilted to the Munich Oktoberfest. That said, our trombone player came in his finest Bavarian trad outfit and looked GREAT....

Were we in "costume?" Yes and no. I prefer to think we dressed (according to our preference) for the occasion.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Wearing a kilt to an Octoberfest is like wearing lederhosen to a Burns Night.

[saharris]

Wearing a kilt to an Octoberfest is like wearing lederhosen to a Burns Night.

I would not equate the formality of a Burns Supper on par with the frivolities of an Oktoberfest. In lines with your analogy, I would say that wearing a kilt to an Oktoberfest would be like wearing Lederhosen to a Highland games or a Celtic festival – which would certainly be eye-catching, but not at all inappropriate.