Bonnets on or off?

[glasgow32]

I remember hearing one time that the Scottish tradition was to wear your hat/bonnet inside. Has anyone else heard this? I am asking because I generally wear a kilt to Church, When I got married and was in full dress, doublet, belted fly plaid, crossbelt w/ sword I left my balmoral on for the entire day, evening during the Church service. Being from the south my Grandmother always taught me to take my hat off inside, during dinner and at Church. Women wear hats during Church, is it inapporiate to wear a balmoral? I would never wear a baseball cap or fedora during Church, but I think a balmoral is different.

[bdkilted]

I am in the south too, and I would never wear any head-dress in a church. The one exception to the "no hat rule" is for military (and pipe bands) as they do not take off their bonnets during prayer, even outside. So, I vote no. Don't wear it inside the church.

[cavscout]

As I recall, the determiner for wearing a head cover indoors is whether or not you are "under arms". sword, fire arm, bag pipe, part of a color guard,... If not under arms, remove cover.

[macwilkin]

I am in the south too, and I would never wear any head-dress in a church. The one exception to the "no hat rule" is for military (and pipe bands) as they do not take off their bonnets during prayer, even outside. So, I vote no. Don't wear it inside the church.

We have the same rule in the Northern Midwest.

T.

[Bugbear]

If it's not a Quaker gathering... I think there are a few others too.

[BoldHighlander]

I guess it depends upon the church.

Ours (an outreach church, e.g. street ministry etc) has a real liberal dress code, and we get a real mix, from dressed up to the nines to ultra casual (cargo shorts, tee-shirts, ball caps & flip-flops), to everything in between.

As such, some folks take off their headwear, and others leave them on.
If wearing a bonnet I have been known to leave it on (except during prayer), and if I'm "cowboy'ed" up then the 10 1/2 gallon (I never do anything small ) comes off & stays off through out.

[Mark Stephenson]

I am retired from the USAF.
I feel comfortable using the same rules that apply to wearing a hat when in uniform.

[ThistleDown]

Glasgow32, are you asking about the Scottish custom regarding the wearing of bonnets indoors, or about the American tradition re: wearing hats inside when one is wearing Highland dress? I can't give you an answer for the second, but with reference to the first, a definite, firm, unequivocal NO. In Scotland we always listen to our grandmothers because they know!

[MacRobert's Reply]

The tradition of the Christian Church concerning the wearing of hats (or other head coverings) is based on an understanding, and often a deal of misunderstanding, of the Apostle Paul's letter to Corinth (1 Corinthians, chapter 11). The tradition is that men do not wear hats in Church and always remove them whether inside or outside when preying or preaching.

[JSFMACLJR]

Glasgow32, are you asking about the Scottish custom regarding the wearing of bonnets indoors, or about the American tradition re: wearing hats inside when one is wearing Highland dress? I can't give you an answer for the second, but with reference to the first, a definite, firm, unequivocal NO. In Scotland we always listen to our grandmothers because they know!

Rex is right--and so are our grandmothers!

Please take your bonnet off indoors, especially in church. Gentlemen would never do otherwise.