What is the lure to draw me generations past more current ancestors to Scots/Irish, etc.? I've wondered on this myself. My mother-in-law has been upset with me for not stressing the culture of the Swiss with my children when they were little. I've taken them to Swiss Days festival and was very disappointed. Nobody and I mean nobody was celebrating anything Swiss! No national dress, no food, no music or singing, just booth after booth of trinkets that had nothing to do with Switzerland. Same thing exits in another part of the state where Scandinavian Days are celebrated. But the Scottish games are celebrated in three different locations in the state. Yes it is a melting of traditions celebrated as such by the diaspora, but it is celebrated. It may be nothing like a festival in Scotland, but it is what has evolved here. And it is remembered.

One son got married nearly a year ago to a beautiful girl who is descended from five Scottish clans including her surname. She didn't even know she was of Scots descent, but is half Samoan and Hawian. But felt a tug at her heart when attending one of the local festivals. My other son is engaged to a girl who is of Germanic Jewish descent, who's mother is a Baillie who's great-grandfather was from Aberdeen, Scotland, and has a photo of him in kilt playing the pipes somewhere in storage. She attended the same festival and was moved that this was part of her heritage. Now my daughter's husband's great-grandfather was from Slovakia, and he champs at the bit to wear a kilt, even went out and obtained one, and wore it to work where he promptly got chewed out for inappropriate dress to work.(This is another story.) For me I'm a mutt. I'm Irish, Welsh, Scottish, French, Dutch, English, Flemish, German, German/Polish, & Cezch. My wife adds Cornish, Swiss, and Danish. So add that these three will bring Jewish, South Sea Islander, and Slovakian blood into the family. Wow, my grandkids will really by mutts! But I have told each of them that those unique heritages need to be experienced by their children too. Not a single one of them has any interest in doing so. The Irish/Scot heritage is fine with them, for it stresses family/extended family!

For me, my surname is Irish, my mother's maiden name is Ulster Scot. My most closest lines but ones that I feel a connection with. I feel nothing for the Germanic, etc., and a great deal has to do with they have no celebrations in my state. As I've stated before, strapping on the kilt makes me feel connected to my forefathers, no mater how distant the relationship.