Good day to all!

[fpessanha]

Hello, X Markers.

I have been considering the purchase of a kilt for a long time now. I have also discussed this theme in another forum (nothing to do with kilts) of which I have been a member for some time now.

For years I've been considering the purchase of a kilt. I find the garment apealing, elegant and utterly different from anything we are used to see out there in the streets. However, I do not intend to wear a kilt very often. Perhaps when hiking about in the countryside or in some event where a great dose of excentricity might be allowed.

Let me explain why I said "excentricity". The fact is simple: I am not Scotish or, by any means, of Scotish extraction. I have no connection whatever with Scotland (except for a great deal of respect and a true love for all the British cultures). I cannot claim a single drop of blood that might have come from any part of the British Isles. I am Portuguese. The only Celt I may claim is the same that any other Portuguese man can claim... the Celts had settled in the Iberian Peninsula before the Romans did and left their contribution to genetic pool of the modern Portuguese.

But, no matter how hard I struggle, I cannot claim any Celtic origin in me.
Normaly that should put me off kilts. But it does not and I really want to have and wear a kilt. It wouldn't surprise anyone who knows me - it would just be another bit of cultural excentricity to add to the tweeds, the pipe and the English language that I love so much...

Having finished this small introduction, let me ask some questions.

As I understand, this forum is frequented by Scots, Americans, Canadians and other nationalities. However, all are - in general and culturaly speaking - of anglo-saxonic extractions with a varying degree of celtic sprinkling. Am I right? If so, you are - as it were - allowed or entitled to wear a kilt because of the cultural connecton to the Celts via your origin. I, being Portuguese, do not have such a connection.

That being said, would you object to my wearing of a kilt? I mean... am I right to assume that I am not culturaly entitled to wear a kilt? (Because I am very much willing to break that unspoken rule...)

If I were to wear a kilt, given my cultural background, which tartan might I wear (given that I have no clan connection, no British military connection and no connection to the Crown, meaning that I cannot wear the tartan of the chieftain)?

I suppose that, given that Portugal and Britain have been military allies since the 12th Century - longest military alliance ever and never marked by any sort of interegnum - I might be allowed to wear a Black Watch tartan. I could justify that if asked... Plus, the Black Watch is sort of the "default" tartan.

What do you think? Thank you!

[gary meakin]

1st - Welcome (from New Hampshire)
2nd - Anyone and everyone is "entitled" to wear the kilt.
My only suggestion is that you know something about the tartan you pick.
3rd - ctbuchanan can find a celtic link to anyone

[Grizzly]

Hello and welcome to the forum. My understanding is that this forum is open to anyone repeat anyone who likes and respects the kilt whatever their background. There is no prerequisite to be Scottish, Celtic or any other background. Therefore you are more than welcome to wear whatever kilt you may choose to wear. There are no rules apart from respect for the tartan that you are wearing. Indeed there are many other types of kilt that you can wear without wearing a tartan if you so desire. Wear what you want and wear it with pride. It is respectful if you choose a particular tartan to learn a little about the heritage so that you can explain to non kilt wearers why you have chosen that particular option but other than one or two notable exceptions such as the Balmoral tartan you can do whatever you please.
Congratulations on taking the first step in joining this forum and look forward to many posts from you as you journey through the process of acquiring the Kilt and all the many and varied accessories that you can spend your hard earned escudos (euros) on.

[Grizzly]

1st - 3rd - ctbuchanan can find a celtic link to anyone

lol quite

[fpessanha]

Thank you.
I understand that there are no "rules" regarding the wearing of a kilt and that there is no real entitlement to the wearing of a kilt. One should know the tartan and be respectfull. And one should stay clear of the exceptional tartans like the Balmoral (that has a very powerful symbolic weight and is privy to the Royal Family) - which is a shame because it is one of the most aestheticaly appealing tartans I know. Maybe I could marry into the family? That's a thought... SWMBO would not like that, but needs must!...
However, there is this lingering idea that at least some sort of Celt connection is necessary. But again, I do not intend to wear a kilt in public, so to speak, therefore there wouldn't be much need for lengthy explanations. It would be for private occasions such as hiking about in the highlands of my family's properties - my very own Balmoral Castle!
That being said, I would like to stay clear of family tartans. I have much respect for the symbolic representative nature of the tartan - and I wouldn't like seeing some one wearing my family crest, so, I'll stay away from the family tartans.
What would you suggest in terms of tartan?

[fpessanha]

Congratulations on taking the first step in joining this forum and look forward to many posts from you as you journey through the process of acquiring the Kilt and all the many and varied accessories that you can spend your hard earned escudos (euros) on.

Thanks for that! It is nice to see that there are people that still remember the good old "Escudo" currency!

[flyingshamrock]

A Hundred Thousand Welcomes from Massachusetts...

I bagpipe with a gentleman who is italian and Portuguese, he's a good piper and wears a kilt often. Wear whatever kilt you like but like the rabble has explained know what you're wearing and wear it proud.

[O'Searcaigh]

from the "Big South Fork" in north central Tennessee!
You don't need to be anything particular to be "allowed" to wear a kilt any more than you'd have to be a cowboy to wear a western hat. As far as tartans go, I have some kilts that have "identities" (e.g., family, national, Irish county) and some that don't: "What kind of tartan is that?" - "A red and green one!" Just be sure to respect yourself and others worthy of your respect will too. Happy kilting!

[Spartan Tartan]

from Oklahoma, USA!

[fpessanha]

Thank you all for the replies.
Aren't we a nice excentrinc bunch?..