Why are you wearing.....a kilt....today??

[Blu (Ontario)]

The collective experience and knowledge of the people posting on this forum is diverse, rich in scope, and impressive in its perspicasity. We share a common interest in and passion for that most noble of garments, the kilt. Of course anyone will tell you with much certainty that a mans kilt is to be worn on special occasions only. I agree! I also happen to believe that every day is a special day or just needs a bit of help with its identity as a special day. With this in mind, I challenge the followers of this forum to help out and identify each one. Today of course is "King James Day" (published bible in 1611). This way if anyone asked the ludicrous question..."Why are you wearing a kilt?", you will be able to answer on good authority. So....what say you gents, there are only 364 left to be identified??? Why are you wearing a kilt...today

blu

[GMan]

Blu and others,

Monday May 3rd has two occasions:

Bank Holiday in the UK and in Japan it's Constitution Day.

Tuesday May 4th is People's Day in Japan.

Wednesday May 5th has two also:

Cinco de Mayo in Mexico and Japan it's Children's Day.

I guess they know how to celebrate in Japan.

Glen

[bear]

There is a book titled, Celebrate Today!, by John Kremer, that lists any excuse you'd ever need to celebrate a day.
ISBN# - 0-912411-44-9

[Alaskan]

GMan, Japanse fathers work insane hours without overtime. If any of their superiors are still at the office they stay even if they have nothing to do. If any superiors will be at the office on Saturday or Sunday, they go to the office, even if they have nothing to do. So the government created holidays like "Ocean day" and "Green day" to get Japanese fathers home with their kids or to go out and do things with their kids... unfortunately, if any superiors are going to be at the office...

The three days at the start of this month are put together to create "Golden Week" to give families an opportunity to travel. Sadly, when I drove by the school today, I could see many teachers working in the office.

So the Japanese know how to create holidays, but not so much how to celebrate.

[GMan]

Alaskan,

I probably misspoke (mistyped) when I said the Japanese know how to celebrate, and if any offense was taken, I apologze.

I wear my kilt about 90% or more of the time, and consider myself very fortunate in being able to wear the kilt most of the time.

I will relate a story that came to my mind after reading your post. It was a really bad day, I already had put in about 7 hours, and was meeting a client for a business lunch, which I knew would last about 2 hours, and I had about another 5-6 hours of work to do after lunch.

While being shown our table, I overheard some ladies talking and one of them said "look, he is in a kilt in honor of Paul Cashmann Day". I did not know who Paul Cashmann is or was, I just looked at her, gave her a big grin and nodded in the affirmitive.

Glen

[Alaskan]

No offense taken. There are just a lot of untrue stereotypes about the Japanese and I try to dismiss these whenever I hear them being propogated. For example most Americans think that Japanese high school students are much better than American students and are always studying because they go to cram school when they get out of regular school. Well, teaching over here I have found that the reason a lot of kids go to cram school is because they don't study in class, school is just a place to socialize for them, and cram school is where they go to learn what they should have learned in school. Also, at the school I teach at 20% is a passing grade and a lot of the students are really happy when they get that.

That isn't to say that I thought you were propogating a stereotype about Japanese knowing how to celebrate. (If that is a stereotype it's the first time I've heard it) It just seemed like the same kind of situation where one piece of information would lead to a logical conclusion, which doesn't happen to be the case.

If you look at my post even, it could be interpreted as me propogating the stereotype of the hard working Japanese businessman. However, just because they are at work doesn't mean that they are working. Since they have to stay if their supperiors stay, a lot of them are sleeping during regular working hours and working hard to look busy after hours.

[Graham]

Alaskan, we are honoured to have you among us with your expertise in matters concerning Japan.

I salute you

[Graham]

Blu, I read your post shortly after you posted it, and I confess I didn't know how to answer it.

For once, the irrepressable Graham was stopped in his tracks as he pondered your post

Your posts are and always have been worth thinking about. I fancy this idea of yours will bring changes to this site and encourage us all.

wotcha think of that then?!!

[GMan]

Alaskan,

I agree with you, sterotypes are just labels, and when we label someone or some culture, I feel that is what causes problems, misunderstandings and probaby even wars. I am just grateful that we have forums like this where we can be honest and open with each other.

So I now challenge all my kilted brothers out there to don the kilt and debunk all the misconceptions, sterotypes and labels that kilts have throughout the world!

Glen

[Graham]

There is a book titled, Celebrate Today!, by John Kremer, that lists any excuse you'd ever need to celebrate a day.
ISBN# - 0-912411-44-9

I love the sound of that book Bear, I must get it.
Now while most of you will not agree, let me tell you that for 30 years I have celebrated every sabbath (saturday) the wonderful Creation event of God by resting from all work. (Exodus 20:8)

We were created by a God Who loves for His creation to rejoice and celebrate. The history and culture of Israel bears that out.

The sabbath is something not found in many books about celebration, but this is a wonderful reason to celebrate every week, and is now yet another occasion for wearing a kilt.