Gift Ideas for My Piper Sweetie?

[efenn]

So, as I'm sure you're all well aware, Christmas is right around the corner. I am new to this Scottish culture... and am actually of strictly English ancestry with only a 1/4 chance that any small bit of Scottish heritage exists in me. As such, I know little about it.

My boyfriend on the other hand is a piper, and he loves it. He leads a small local pipe band, plans his city's local Burn's Supper every year, plays for some funerals and weddings, etc. I love to be supportive of him (and am working on getting a sash and kilt skirt to match his kilt for Burn's Supper), but I have no idea what to get him for Christmas. I just know that I would like for it to be something that shows support for what he loves.

First I would like to say that we are very budgeted people. I am a college student, and he has a degree but is searching for a steady career. Originally, I really wanted to get him a tie to match his kilt, but it appears that no "Freedom Tartan" tie exists. (If you have any idea where I may be able to find one, please let me know.)

Then I found a freedom tartan sash on sale (which I may now get for myself), but researched it only to learn that sashes are traditionally only for women to wear, and plaids are for men. So I searched for plaids, and not only are they well out of my budget but they also do not seem to exist in freedom tartan (I'm beginning to get the idea that Freedom is a generic tartan, and that's why it either is not an option or is cheaper.)

Lastly, and what I'm probably going to get him, is a kilt pin. I found this one with a word in the title I'd never heard of "mizpah", I researched the word and apparently it means something along the line of an emotional bond that is seperates (which we currently are, with me in an out of state college), so I feel like that'd make a super sweet gift for him, and will probably get it. <3

Sorry for rambling on, but I just feel like a little pin isn't enough. :/ Can anyone on here give me some less expensive other gift ideas that I could look into?

Thanks a lot!

[Grizzly]

Welcome Efenn from across the pond in Southampton UK. I am sure that you will get many responses to your question so I will say that a kilt pin is a lovely idea, a couple of other ideas would be a hip flask, they can be obtained at a reasonable price and you could get it engraved for an added personal touch. Also we can never get enough kilt hose. Best of luck in your search.

[Father Bill]

You'll get lots of good suggestions from those much more knowledgeable than I, but you might want to click the links for some of the XMarks sponsors and friends around the border of this page. Some of them have extensive merchandise sites, others very limited ranges of excellent material. Meanwhile...
Welcome to the "Great Rabble" and to the world of Scottish (and not so Scottish) traditions!

[Mikilt]

Hi there effenn!


To echo Father Bill, the sponsors, advertisers and patners on this forum are all very reputable and together they represent a large selection of gift ideas for your boyfriend.

A kilt pin is a fine idea. Especially one that says "Mitzpah". It means "watchtower". In the bible it's taken to mean "May the Lord keep watch between us while we are apart."

[ASinclair]

Hello, efenn!



Other reasonably priced gift ideas are: Celtic music CDs, movies like Braveheart and Rob Roy, The Glencairn Glass if he is a whisky drinker, a Tattersall shirt (if you can find one on sale), books about Scotland, a glass or plaque with his clan badge on it. I could go on, since I have been working on my own Christmas list for my wife. Good luck!

[chasem]

A kilt pin is a great idea. It's definitely a simple (but meaningful!) way to show your support.

Is there any part of the piper kit that he's missing? Maybe a balmoral or glengarry?

Or a sghian dubh.

And as someone else mentioned, a good pair or two of kilt hose in colors matching his tartan would always be a good choice

[Father Bill]

Yup. A suggestion I've frequently heard here is that the hose don't have to actually "match" the kilt colours; they have to "tone in" with them.

[KD Burke]

How about a new bag cover and/or drone cords?

He may appreciate a different look for solo gigs as opposed to band engagements.

bagpipecovers.com has a good selection.

[Destin_scot]

Welcome aboard.

A kilt pin is an excellent idea. If your college has a humanities department, and you know anyone who is working/studying in the arts department, and there are ceramics classes, you may be able to get a custom kilt pin made for a very reasonable amount. Silver metal clay can be moulded into just about any shape you want and certainly can be made as a kilt pin with the addition of some stainless steel pins (like the ones they use on tie tacks).

You could also get one made in ceramic and glazed in colours and metal...the option could be limited only by your imagination and artistic skills.

[Hawk]

A kilt pin is a great idea. It's definitely a simple (but meaningful!) way to show your support.

Is there any part of the piper kit that he's missing? Maybe a balmoral or glengarry?

Or a sghian dubh.

And as someone else mentioned, a good pair or two of kilt hose in colors matching his tartan would always be a good choice

I concur with chasem, a special kilt pin and/or a Sgian Dubh might be good, and a Clan Badge for his Balmoral.....just a few thoughts.

Also, welcome to the XMTS Community.......

Hawk