Kilt on front of Nat Geo Holiday 2013 catalog

**sydnie7** · 19th October 13, 04:35 PM

Came in the mail this week (while I was out of town). Lovely photo described as "Royal Stewart tartan kilt. Photograph by Jonathan Smith." No -- not listed for sale inside!
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**OC Richard** · 19th October 13, 05:01 PM

What I find interesting is: what is the connexion between tartan and Christmas?

At Christmas we see tartan ribbon, tartan wrapping paper, tartan scarves and other clothing... I wonder why.

**Steve Ashton** · 19th October 13, 05:04 PM

And did you notice how poorly the kilt has been pressed? Those big waves in the back of the pleats are a disgrace for a magazine cover.

**OC Richard** · 19th October 13, 05:42 PM

You see that in civilian pipe bands all the time: bandsmen (often youngsters) who just throw their kit on the ground between performances, and show up with everything looking like they had slept in it.

It's very hard, in a band, to get everyone to take care of their kit. I myself can't imagine following that mode of thinking that goes "oh, this stuff just belongs to somebody else so who cares?"

One time, in a band years ago, the equipment manager had to track down a uniform issued to a kid who had stopped showing up at rehearsals and gigs. He recalled going to the kid's house and being shown a closet and being told "there's the stuff" and finding the entire uniform (full dress doublet, feather bonnet, full plaid, heavyweight kilt, hosetops, spats, horsehair sporran) smashed down in a little pile on the floor in one corner of the closet. Oi!

**unixken** · 20th October 13, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

And did you notice how poorly the kilt has been pressed? Those big waves in the back of the pleats are a disgrace for a magazine cover.

That was the first thing that caught my eye. Quite the stage curtain look.

**Tartan Tess** · 20th October 13, 04:16 AM

I am sad to see that national geographic has jumped on the Christmas bandwagon.

**Riverkilt** · 20th October 13, 07:21 AM

I received the same catalog and delighted in the photo....perfect pleats or not....but could not find any description of the pic inside the catalog. But pleased to see the kilt so honored - even with imperfection.

And....LOVED the spats!

**sydnie7** · 20th October 13, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

I received the same catalog and delighted in the photo....perfect pleats or not....but could not find any description of the pic inside the catalog. But pleased to see the kilt so honored - even with imperfection.

And....LOVED the spats!

Only mention I found was the photo credit on back cover, top left.

I'm curious (as long as people are obsessing about pleats and such) about the spat alignment -- top point of spat not centered on rear seam of hose -- is that correct or another tick in the "tsk-tsk" column? They do seem to be symmetrically misaligned.

**WillowEstate** · 20th October 13, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

What I find interesting is: what is the connexion between tartan and Christmas?

At Christmas we see tartan ribbon, tartan wrapping paper, tartan scarves and other clothing... I wonder why.

Well, it might be because it's now commonplace for the Christmas holiday to extend from Christmas through New Year and, as you probably know, in Scotland, Hogmanay is often celebrated more than Christmas itself. Maybe that's the reason?

**sydnie7** · 21st October 13, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by WillowEstate

Well, it might be because it's now commonplace for the Christmas holiday to extend from Christmas through New Year and, as you probably know, in Scotland, Hogmanay is often celebrated more than Christmas itself. Maybe that's the reason?

Just as "logical" to attach the connection to FDR's Scottie dog Fala, who graced White House Christmas cards. There are still many Scottie-themed Christmas items available.

Then there's the 3M tartan that we all grew up staring at as we used their tape to wrap gifts. . .