Bagpipe ban for tat shops

[PEEDYC]

Father Bill, Don't sell your kilts. Wear them with pride. It is an item of clothing after all and although traditionally seen as a Scottish garment it is for anyone to wear who chooses to do so. I must admit there are some National dress that I would not be seen dead in (lederhosen) but I will not name them. People throughout the world as this web site is testimony too like to wear the kilt regardless of their Scottish heritage or not. I for one am not offended by non Scots wearing a kilt, in fact the opposite I am proud and honoured to be amongst like minded people.

Keep on kilting. Even if it is tat from the Royal Mile shops.

[CMcG]

<snip> where am I truly welcome in this culture? What can I do that is appropriate and would be respected?

From what I have gathered around this site, you should be fine if you wear the kilt in the traditional way and for the type of occasions that a Scot would reserve their kilt for.

[Jimmy]

I agree that the Royal Mile is full of shops selling anything Scottish, from retailers who have served their customers over many years and generations to the new found market forces ''tat'' shops.
Many people that I know who have lived in Scotland all their lifes and who have recently visited our capital city have remarked on the commercialistion of Scottish goods on the Royal Mile.
For the indigenious Scot , he or she likes to choose the time when they can illustrate their Scottish identity, most Scots are proud of their country but never like to be in a visitors face with regards to being Scottish, therefore the brash and bold trading of all goods with a Scottish facet does not go down well with the average Scot.
Probably the best example of that is when the home bred Scot decides to wear his kilt, here we have a strange paradox where so many Scots are now owners of kilts, thanks to many of the cheap 'tat' shops and trading from store such as LIDL, but when do they wear the kilt - at a wedding, a Burns Night, an international rugby or foootball match- thats about it.
This in itself shows that Scots want to be Scottish but also want to be Scottish at a time of their own choosing.
We have a strange situation in Scotland when nationalistic forces every now and then come to the fore and being Scottish is the thing to be, for instance, when Scotland does well on the world sports stage, through a team effort or by a single entity such as Colin Montgomerie or Andy Murray then the nation is in rapture, I suppose this is quite common with small nations.

So the over commercialistion of Scottish culture and heritage is something that splits the nation, some just do not want the '' haggis and shortbread image''
while others feel that as a nation we do not capitalise on our best selling points as Ireland successfully does with their leprachaun and shilleagh image.
Perhaps there is a place for ''tat'' but if there is, it must be closely monitored and observed so that our image does not become wasted and abused

[Father Bill]

Father Bill, Don't sell your kilts. Wear them with pride. It is an item of clothing after all and although traditionally seen as a Scottish garment it is for anyone to wear who chooses to do so.
*snip*
Keep on kilting. Even if it is tat from the Royal Mile shops.

Interesting and supportive response, my friend. Perhaps you remember the very long and heated thread that evolved from an innocent thought from English Bloke on the topic: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...clothes-65854/ It was the heat from some of our members in that thread that first made me realize that I've perhaps begun to tread on some very sensitive ground when I paid out my cash for a kilt, and I'm feeling a bit of that warmth again.

The kilt I wear most is a 16 oz, 9 yd Clergy Tartan totally traditional. I wear it with my black clergy shirt and a Crail jacket and vest, proper knee socks, etc. etc. etc. It's not a "cheapy" or a knock-off, nor (and again with no disrespect, this time to those who like to experiment and build beautiful new things) ...nor, is it any kind of parody or newer style. It's a quality traditional (and please folks let's not parse and argue over the meaning of that word either) garment purchased at great expense, careful research, and with no little effort for arrangements.

I think I'm indeed wearing it with respect, but it would appear that there are some Scots and a few members here who might think I'm disrespectful or at least quite off my rails and somewhat odd for even owning it at all.

Thank you for your kind response; I'm not sure how many Highlanders would agree though, and that's what I'm trying to sound out.

Respectfully and appreciatively,

[Jock Scot]

Fellows, I'm starting to feel like an intruder for loving and admiring things that are Scottish. I'm starting to wonder if I should just wear trousers, sell off my kilts and jackets, and leave my membership here.

I don't think for a minute that it's the true intent of either Scots in general or highlanders in particular, but please, Highlanders, advise me: where am I truly welcome in this culture? What can I do that is appropriate and would be respected?

I don't want to pretend anything and I don't want to offend anywhere, but I discover that I do have relatives living in Scotland for centuries and it gives me great cheer, and then . . . .

Just looking for advice from the Scots.

A good question and from a personal point of view (many Scots probably think along the same lines)my answer is :-

As long as the traditional kilt is worn well and with respect then I am flattered that others from outwith Scotland wish to wear one. There was a time when I really felt very uncomfortable with others from outwith Scotland wearing the kilt, but a certain amount of realism has dawned upon me over the years.

Where I really get brassed off is when a non Scot says "to hell with that, I will wear the kilt when,where and how I like" and yes we get that comment on this website! Although I fancy, not as often as we used to.

Now the "wear what I like" brigade will often use pictures of the "Tartan Army" to justify their view and fair enough, but and I repeat BUT, what is not understood by non Scots is that the "TA" know how to wear the kilt properly should the occasion arise.

One of the reasons(not the only one) that I spend more than a wee tad of my time on this website is to try and educate, encourage and help non Scots into wearing my national attire----yes I do think it is that------ properly.That way, when I see the kilt being properly worn I can AND DO feel just more than a wee tinge of pride to think "there goes my Scots national attire and doesn't it look damn good!"

Of course I have to accept that the weather in other parts of the world is not like Scotland's! Well, with a spot of imagination as shown by more than a few threads at the moment, the "spirit" , not the "letter" necessarily, of traditional kilt attire can still be achieved, which in my view does great credit to those that try to stay within the traditional Scots kilted look.

Which brings me onto the "modern style of kilt"(non traditional kilts) and there is no getting away from it , they do cause me problems and I think many other Scots too! Thankfully, in my experience, they are not a common sight in Scotland (I have never knowingly seen one), but I have to accept that in other places in the world they are popular with some people.

[Father Bill]

A good question and from a personal point of view (many Scots probably think along the same lines)my answer is :-

As long as the traditional kilt is worn well and with respect then I am flattered that others from outwith Scotland wish to wear one. There was a time when I really felt very uncomfortable with others from outwith Scotland wearing the kilt, but a certain amount of realism has dawned upon me over the years.

Where I really get brassed off is when a non Scot says "to hell with that, I will wear the kilt when,where and how I like" and yes we get that comment on this website! Although I fancy, not as often as we used to.

*snip*

Which brings me onto the "modern style of kilt"(non traditional kilts) and there is no getting away from it , they do cause me problems and I think many other Scots too! Thankfully, in my experience, they are not a common sight in Scotland (I have never knowingly seen one), but I have to accept that in other places in the world they are popular with some people.

Thank you Jock - a thoughtful response, and I respect and appreciate your input here and so very often through the forum. Much of what you have said above resonates with me, but I am humbled into a bit of a corner. I sincerely hope that I don't offend by either my kilt-wearing or my discomfort.

Bill+

[CMcG]

One of the reasons(not the only one) that I spend more than a wee tad of my time on this website is to try and educate, encourage and help non Scots into wearing my national attire----yes I do think it is that------ properly.That way, when I see the kilt being properly worn I can AND DO feel just more than a wee tinge of pride to think "there goes my Scots national attire and doesn't it look damn good!"

<snip>

Cheers Jock, you've certainly had a strong, positive impact on my kilt wearing and I'm sure many others on this site well.

[Phil]

Fellows, I'm starting to feel like an intruder for loving and admiring things that are Scottish. I'm starting to wonder if I should just wear trousers, sell off my kilts and jackets, and leave my membership here.

I wouldn't be too hasty here, Father Bill. After all you are not dressing up a in a farrago of imaginary tartan accoutrements with a toy Scottie dog at your side and purporting to every passing tourist that this is a genuine representation of what Scotland and Scottishness is all about. You aren't are you? Please say that you aren't.
You don't repetitively broadcast loud music of a supposedly Scottish nature into the street outside your house. Do you?
If your answer to the above is No and No then you should have very little to worry about.
My earlier rant was not about who should or should not wear a kilt. Rather it was about how Scottish people really would prefer to be recognised. Not as kilt-clad, red-haired, hairy warriors waving their swords and skipping through the heather to the accompaniment of a thousand pipers. Rather as capable and confident forward-looking citizens of the modern world.
Anyone who says you have to be Scottish, or even worse, someone from a small, specific area of Scotland (which they, of course define to suit their own purpose), to wear a kilt is, quite frankly, delusional and of a narrow-minded and insular mindset such that they really only deserve your pity and derision in equal parts.

[madmacs]

Fellows, I'm starting to feel like an intruder for loving and admiring things that are Scottish. I'm starting to wonder if I should just wear trousers, sell off my kilts and jackets, and leave my membership here.

I don't think for a minute that it's the true intent of either Scots in general or highlanders in particular, but please, Highlanders, advise me: where am I truly welcome in this culture? What can I do that is appropriate and would be respected?

I don't want to pretend anything and I don't want to offend anywhere, but I discover that I do have relatives living in Scotland for centuries and it gives me great cheer, and then . . . .

Just looking for advice from the Scots.

Well I would have to ask a Q there... How many kilt makers, dancers, and pipe bands are there in Canada? That's not to mention regiments... I'd say that Canada has more than a fair claim to both kilts and its share of Scotlands heritage...

I can certainly remember my aunt coming over to visit the UK in 1976 from Barrington Passage in Nova Scotia and bringing with her Nova Scotia tartan... I can also remember mentions of jacket conversions being semi normal, especially for PC's...

I dont think the Kilt is just Scottish anymore...

[Jock Scot]

I dont think the Kilt is just Scottish anymore...

You may well be quite right, BUT therein lies the crux of the problem.