Wearing your kilt to other cultural events

[Kiltman]

Well that is an interesting question,. . . I would not, and do not have a problem wearing my kilt anywhere that I go. Does it bother some people, yes, do their prejudges effect me, if I allow them to. I have got to the point in my life where I can dress myself, and I am also grown up enough to not let what others wear bother me. I wish others would see it that way.

No matter where I go people of other cultures have had positive things to say about my kilt wearing with some of them it is because they are proud to wear the "costume" of their heritage and can therefore relate.

Yes, I wear a kilt much of the time and have never had a problem with other cultures. I've worn a kilt to Native American, German, Italian, Chinese etc. events. If asked, I tell them I wear a kilt to honor them and their ways. It always works.

[Mr. MacDougall]

At the recent release party for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, there were many people dressed in costumes from the Harry Potter mileu... I, myself, was wearing Ravenclaw robes, along with a tie in house colors. This may be seen as cultural clothing, since it was specific to the geek sub-culture involved in the Harry Potter books.

There were also two young men, probably somewhat drunk, who had put on any clothes they could find which, in their minds, looked stupid. They wandered around, putting on bad, fake English accents, asking if people knew the way back to the shire, where Gandalf was, and so on.

In my book, that's disrespectful. Going to Oktoberfest in a kilt, and participating in the German events, is not.

[apack]

A bit off topic, but amusing nonetheless...

I wore a kilt to the Harry Potter release party at a local bookstore. I was accompanying my daughter, who went as Ginny Weasley, complete with robes, wand, and Hogwarts tie. MANY people asked me what character I was supposed to be! They were all convinced there was a kilted Scotsman in the book somewhere, and they couldn't quite remember his name...

[Kid Cossack]

I wear a kilt pretty much all the time, and I've been to an Oktoberfest, a couple of Greek festivals and a Polish festival kilted. Everyone seemed to like it, although one Greek fellow ribbed me about the funny looking fustanella I was wearing!

I think that, at cultural events particularly, people are in a "let's celebrate our unique little slice of humanity" mood to begin with, and thus probably more receptive to the kilt than they'd otherwise be.

As to not disrespecting the culture being celebrated, I don't think the kilt has any more to do with it than, say, shoes or a shirt. For a formal event, I'd avoid a t-shirt and flip flops, but I'd wear a polo shirt and Keen sandals (modern ghillies).

If anyone was offended, I'd explain that this is how I dress, and that I came to the event to celebrate their culture (and score some good food and wine or beer!), and that I meant no offense.

I had a conversation like that at a BBQ joint with two very large, very tough looking black dudes. They were plenty surprised to see a fellow sporting tartan there, but while we waited in line we had a really good conversation about comfort, heritage, what people thought, and how much chicks dig on the kilt.

I was the only white face in the room, I got a lot of attention, and everyone pretty much liked the kilt.

In the end, the kilt is just a kilt, it's just a few yards of cloth wrapped around you. If a man in a kilt is a man and a half, then a jerk in a kilt is a jerk and a half, and a good guy, a good guy and a half. What you do with that extra self confidence, and that extra attention, the kilt gives you is up to you.

Use your powers for good, brothers!

[macwilkin]

I've worn a kilt to a joint Midsummer/Midsommar celebration that our local Scottish and Scandinavian Societies had last june; there were folks there dressed in traditional Norwegian and Swedish costumes, and everyone loved the kilts -- we even brought our piper along and he played as everyone danced around the Maypole in the front yard of the Lutheran church.

During the program, I discussed the close ties between Scotland, Norway and Sweden, and brought along my Norwegian tartan tie to show off (thanks to Freelander!) -- several folks inquired as to how they could order material.

Our Scottish society has also held a "Nova Scotia night", where my MIL discussed the connections betweens the Scots and the Cajuns. One year we invited a local Sikh psychologist to discuss the long relationship between the Sikhs and the Scots, especially the Singh tartan and Lord Singh's love of Robert Burns.

Bottom line: of course it's appropriate. Just quote Burns's "A Man's a Man for a' that" to anyone who objects, or tell them the auld Scottish saying:

"We're a' Jock Tamson's Bairns -- who's Jock Tamson? Well, he's God."

Regards,

Todd

[Archangel]

I think you need to pick and choose. I wore mine to my Canadian citizenship, what the hey, but I didn't wear sandals, did everything proper and nobody brought a camera.

I had another occasion last month to participate in a First Nation Day of Protest. I did not wear the kilt since I thought it would take away from their event. I didn't get a chance to discuss it with the organizers. As it turns out, I was invited to the front and my picture was in the paper. So I'm satisfied that I did the right thing. The Feather Bearer should be the focus, not the guy in the kilt behind him.

[Riverkilt]

I've been kilted at the Gathering of Nations for two years now - a huge Pow-Wow in Albuquerque and have seen other kilted gents there.

I've been kilted to local Navajo Pow-Wows.

I've been kilted to Hopi dances.

Only problem is the Hopi's call be Mike since a high school teacher at Hopi High School wears kilts from time to time.

Ron

[emolas]

If thinking that attending a culturally themed event in a different culture's traditional clothing is disrespect then you have to realize that almost everyone there is dressed in the wrong culture's clothing because they are dressed in modern American (or whatever country you are in) clothing. Unless everyone is specifically asked to dress in national clothing for the event then anything you wear that is in keeping with the formality of the occasion should suffice. I attended an asian festival last month kilted and met someone wearing a utilikilt at the event.

[Martin S]

I had been thinking recently of this very question -- but in a different way; nothing to do with "respect" for other people's cultures etc.
I'd heard there was some country & western dancing club here and thought of going along for some exercise.
What would they think of the kilt?
Since I would be a beginner, yet already know how to dance, would they think I was trying to show off?
Since I run a Scottish dancing club, would they think I was there only to try and kidnap their members?
I have heard that some American dancers are very strict about costume (long sleeves & jeans for men, wide frilly skirts for the girls...), so would I be simply breaking the rules by turning up in my everyday clothes?

Martin

[Fedgunner]

I wear kilts to any event. It doesn't matter what.
I have never gotten any grief from any one (other than the norm) from anyone.