Scottish Kilts

[Kiltedmusiclover]

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Admiration because of the sheer amount of nerve it must take. As a Scot I can go anywhere in the kilt without any hassle (apart from the usual idiots found in any country) but for someone in, say, middle America without any Scottish connections to appear in a tartan kilt must take a massive amount of courage - these guys really are true bravehearts!

Robbie,

I am from one of those areas that has strong Scottish migration
ties. I live in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in
North Carolina. Even with a Scottish heritage it still a test of nerves
at times. Before I go to an event I plan to make sure I will not
need to make any unnecessary stops. Why?
It’s just something that the “Good ole boys” will definitely give you
grief over. Now if they know me, then it is in good hearted
fun and no big deal. Most others are still quite gracious and polite
even inquisitive about a kilt.

It’s the few mindless idiots who just make you uncomfortable with
comments or in some cases actions.

I don’t consider myself a braveheart, yet I have
found it does take someone who is not faint at heart
to wear a kilt.

Nelson

[Blu (Ontario)]

....The only thing we object to is when the kilt is worn badly, ie too long/short...etc...Like all garments you should wear the proper length for your height which for the kilt means showing a bit of knee. ...etc...those looking at you know even less about how a kilt should be worn! As for too short ie: halfway up their thighs, let's just be pc and say I'm not going to sit beside them.

LOL, I've seen all of that and then some...including grandma's long pleated skirt worn with a sporran! The worst was the kilt worn backwards at a highland games. It suspect it may have been a joke, but a bad one for sure.

blu

[highlandtide]

I have a pic of a guy wearing a Sportkilt sideways. I dont know if I should post it b/c I might feel bad for making fun...maybe I will do it in a new thread.

[kiltimabar]

Re your query about what we Scots think of non-Scots wearing kilts, I think the honest answer would be slightly puzzled admiration but secretly pleased. Canada, Australia, New Zealand we can also understand because there are historical migration links with Scotland but, for example, the American Mid-West?

Robbie:

Sounds like you haven't considered that there has indeed been considerable immigration to the USA Midwest--my Scottish ancestors date back at least to 1789 and although they only worked their way to the Midwest via Virginia and Kentucky, by 1945 they were in Illinois, where I was born. I do not have a Scottish name, because they were all on my mother's side, but if my paternity/maternity were reversed I'd be a McLean. There are a lot more Scots around in a lot more places than you think.

Dave

[richardljohnson]

Living in Texas I have both sides of my family with ties to Scotland(Campbell and Gunn). About 1765 one of my ancestors migrated from Scotland to South Carolina. 3 Generations later they were in East Texas after making the trip through the southern states. The sons and daughter of my ancestor split up and I have found traces of them up into Ohio, Kentucky and Kansas. And I am sure there are more in areas that I haven't been able to track.

My best friend's mother was born in Scotland and my wife has family ties to Scotland also. I do have ties to other countries (as well as Native American) and I 'honor' those ties and I have even been to a few pow-wow's, dances and ceremonies but I feel a strong link to Scotland. Maybe that is why I wear the kilt even though I'm sure when my ancestor came over to the 'colonies' he probably adopted new ways and probably never wore the kilt again. All that I have to remember Scotland are a few family stories (some I'm sure are 'fish tales') but there is a blood link there. I have even been told that I do have a 'Scottish' look about me by my friends mother. So, this is one reason I wear the kilt. To honor my family blood link but the other is more personal in that 'it just feels right'.

After all, I'm in Texas and if someone in Scotland wants to wear a Stetson, blue jeans and boots and drink Lone Star Beer with their BBQ I'd say more power to them. If I were there I'd ask for a long neck and a slab of beef and begin to kick back and enjoy also! But first I'd garb a napkin for the kilt, BBQ can be hard to get out!

RLJ-

[elijah]

I saw a chart at last year's highland games and I think around 20-30 US President have Scottish blood in them.

[Martin]

Hi Graham -


Re your query about what we Scots think of non-Scots wearing kilts, I think the honest answer would be slightly puzzled admiration but secretly pleased. Pleased because, as the old saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so we take it as a compliment that others like our national attire so much that they want to wear it too.

Very pleased to hear that Robbie, speaking as an Englishman with no Scottish connections. I think the kilt is quite the most comfortable and classy garment a man can wear. It looks great worn formally or casually. It is a marvellous gift Scotland has given to the world.

[bubba]

My kin came from Scotland around 1640 and settled in Massachussetts for awhile, then some moved to Maine. A few years before the Civil War my GGGrandfather settled in Wisconsin and helped found the Town of Maine.When he was in his 60s he homesteaded in the Dakotas. Some of the family have wound up in Washington and Oregon, others are still on the East Coast and some are still in Wisconsin. One thing about the Scots and Irish, they tend to be fiddlefooted folks.

[shillelaghbruises]

My Scottish ancestors came in a big group and apparently founded their own town in Canada, I'm not sure what province. I know they were Murdoch's from the west highlands, with ties to Clan Donald. My closest relatives from that side now live in Alberta.

[Robbie]

I stand corrected! However, I should not really have been surprised given, as someone else said, the wanderlust of the Scots (and the Irish). Must be something in the Celtic blood!