Apprpriate dress for ceremonial occasion

**Farmer Jones** · 7th August 13, 04:40 PM

I am about to get my first kilt, which will be Canadian Maple Leaf. For the past many years I have been selected to represent Canada at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day. I will be doing the same again this year. This is not a formal occasion, so I do not wear a tuxedo, but rather it has been my habit to wear a dark suit. So when I wear my kilt to perform this duty this year, I would not be wearing it with a formal "evening" jacket and bow tie. I would of course not want to be casually dressed either. Just as the military present do not wear their dress uniforms. My question is about the proper jacket/tie and accoutrements that I should wear with my kilt for this formal, but not "evening formal" occasion. I do have a goodly selection of tweed jackets (some dating to the 1970s) to choose from, if that is appropriate.

**Downunder Kilt** · 7th August 13, 05:21 PM

At the risk of opening a can of worms, if you are representing Canada on such a day, why would you wear the Cultural/National dress of another country? To my way of thinking there are plenty of times to wear your maple leaf kilt to show your national pride, but as a representative of Canada is not one of them.

**Farmer Jones** · 7th August 13, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

At the risk of opening a can of worms, if you are representing Canada on such a day, why would you wear the Cultural/National dress of another country? To my way of thinking there are plenty of times to wear your maple leaf kilt to show your national pride, but as a representative of Canada is not one of them.

The Maple Leaf tartan is the national tartan of Canada. It is specified for use on these occasions. Kilts are common dress in this part of Canada and are frequently seen. Kilts are worn by many organizations on these occasions. In this part of Canada, the kilt is as close as we get to national dress. It is most certainly considered appropriate here. Not only that, we have a National Tartan Day on April 6th. On Canada Day (July 1st) more tartan is seen than not.

**Father Bill** · 7th August 13, 06:11 PM

You can find the government of Canada's official invitation to use it including as a kilt on national occasions at http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1363631111199/1363631151090

**Downunder Kilt** · 7th August 13, 06:18 PM

I am not disputing anything you say. Many States, some countries and many organizations have their own tartan. Many countries have a National tartan day. I always wear my kilt to ANZAC Day Remembrance Services, but I am only representing myself, not Australia. The difference I am suggesting is that many others maybe be wearing a kilt to represent an organisation, be it Armed Foces (where the kilt is part of uniform), the local St Andrews Society, the local pipe band. They are representing their institution, not the country of Canada.

**Farmer Jones** · 7th August 13, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

I am not disputing anything you say. Many States, some countries and many organization have their own tartan. Many countries have a National tartan day. I always wear my kilt to ANZAC Day Remembrance Services, but I am only representing myself, not Australia. The difference I am suggesting is that many others maybe be wearing a kilt to represent an organisation, be it Armed Foces (where the kilt is part of uniform), the local St Andrews Society, the local pipe band. They are representing their institution, not the country of Canada.

But I will be representing Canada, so will appropriately attire myself in Maple Leaf tartan, in accordance with local custom, and my question remains about the rest of the suit I will wear.

Edit: I have confirmation from the Royal Canadian Legion on the correctness of this.

**Downunder Kilt** · 7th August 13, 06:44 PM

We are talking about whether the kilt is appropiate to represent Canada, not the tartan. I have no qualms with anybody wearing a kilt, in whaterver tartan to any type of ceremony where they are representing themself or an organisation. However when is representing ones country in an event, in this case, one that is remembered world wide I cannot understand the rationale behind wearing the national dress (the Kilt) of another country

**Farmer Jones** · 7th August 13, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

We are talking about whether the kilt is appropiate to represent Canada, not the tartan. I have no quams anybody wearing a kilt, in whaterver tartan to any type of ceremony where they are representing themself or an organisation. However when is representing ones country in an event, in this case, one that is remembered world wide I cannot understand the rationale behind wearing the national dress (the Kilt) of another country

You did momentarily have me questioning something I have seen done for many years, so I phoned the Legion headquarters and asked. You have to remember, this is Canada, not Australia. Your ways may not be our ways. The kilt may have started as a Scottish national dress, and been exported by the diaspora, but it is not longer just a Scottish national dress, as it has been adopted as a method of showing honour in many other places.

**Downunder Kilt** · 7th August 13, 07:25 PM

If you are repesenting "The Royal Canadian Legion" (an organisation) then this is an entirely different matter, you are not representing the Country of Canada. My concern was that you being an official representative of the Canadian Government, yet wanting to wear the national dress of another country. If this is the case, I would suggest tweed jacket, waistcoat, shirt, tie, basically the highland equivalent of your dark suit.

**Farmer Jones** · 7th August 13, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

If you are repesenting "The Royal Canadian Legion" (an organisation) then this is an entirely different matter, you are not representing the Country of Canada. My concern was that you being an official representative of the Canadian Government, yet wanting to wear the national dress of another country. If this is the case, I would suggest tweed jacket, waistcoat, shirt, tie, basically the highland equivalent of your dark suit.

The Royal Canadian Legion organize the event and are responsible for the ceremony. They have their own tartan, which if I were a member, I could wear for their events. I perform this duty as a representative of Canada, at the request of our federal government. There is an order of precedence in which the wreaths are laid. The national one, with the legend "Canada" on, is the first. This is the one I will be laying. It is late here now, so I will have to wait until tomorrow to contact my parliamentary representative and see what the government thinks of your point of view.