Scottish outlook on kilted Americans?

[creagdhubh]

On behalf of the Scots who are still here and perhaps even on behalf of the several who went into dormancy and reduced our international perspective in the last day, please accept humble and heartfelt thanks for your understanding, Cygnus, it's what we would have expected of you. There are, of course, some very vocal exceptions, but the vast majority of Scots like the fact that folk all over the world have taken to Highand dress. It doesn't matter to most who wears it, as long as it is worn well. Well, perhaps two more things: that nobody argues its origins and traditions are in the Highlands of Scotland -- and that nobody tries to claim ownership of our National Dress

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[flairball]

Interesting how we all think and thank goodness we don't all think the same!

X2. Can you imagine how boring this place would be if we all agreed, all the time?

Or, how scary this place would be if everyone agreed with me all the time? I don't want to even think about it.

[David]

I have just joined this forum, though I am a member of others and indeed am a founder of a forum, and when I saw this thread and the early "oh no here we go again" type comments I thought I'd steer clear. It never ceases to amaze me how het up some people can get get over subjects that are really not that important in the great scheme of things. But I thought I'd put my tuppence worth in anyway. I'll try and stick to the topic with my answer.

If Americans, or any other nationality want to wear a kilt, I say; go ahead. I don't have a problem with corporate, district, state, national, etc, etc, etc, tartans, in fact I'm thinking of designing my own tartan. Just wear your kilt smartly and correctly.

The first person I knew who had his own kilt was my Father-in-law and although he was born in Scotland, his parents were Lithuanian.

[Peter Crowe]

On behalf of the Scots who are still here and perhaps even on behalf of the several who went into dormancy and reduced our international perspective in the last day, please accept humble and heartfelt thanks for your understanding, Cygnus, it's what we would have expected of you. There are, of course, some very vocal exceptions, but the vast majority of Scots like the fact that folk all over the world have taken to Highand dress. It doesn't matter to most who wears it, as long as it is worn well. Well, perhaps two more things: that nobody argues its origins and traditions are in the Highlands of Scotland -- and that nobody tries to claim ownership of our National Dress

Another Kyleism +2

[tky58]

I am only up to reading page 25/31 but feel I must comment on two points.

A lot of people from various points of the globe are commenting (griping) about the seasonal influx of tourists. We currently live in Midcoast Maine (Near Bar Harbor) and also "suffer" a summer tourist influx. However, my wife has you all beat. She grew up in Orlando, Florida. Believe me, there is nothing like a bunch of hot, tired, angry DamnYankee (one word) tourists to irritate the locals.

Second, I've noted many people refer to a Brigadoon version of Scotland. Let me state for the record that Brigadoon has nothing to do with Scotland. It is a very American bastardization of Scotland. And while I appologize for the "Scot-politation", I must admit I helped put on the play in Belfast this past summer. (as Mr Lundie). Mea Culpa to those offended.

[ThistleDown]

Since this thread was a question asked of Scots, may I just add a wee note here to set the matter of tourism in a brighter light: one of Scotland's prime economies is tourism and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. We devote a large chunk of both public and private funding to its promotion and servicing. Following lengthy tails of caravans and tour buses may not be the perfect life for a lorry driver (or a Lambergini one), and crowds of chattering foreign folk in the streets of Edinburgh may not be to the likes of some rubberman mumbling his way home at the end of the day. That's just fine. Most of us like your visits and tho we may be quiet in our appreciation, it's there just the same.

The other subject, Brigadoon and Braveheart (aren't those two vastly different images now?) is just more myth about Scotland. This is a fine forum for setting straight the bits and pieces, the warp and the weft, the real and the most certainly unreal.

Very best wishes for a happy 2013.

[Peter Crowe]

The other subject, Brigadoon and Braveheart (aren't those two vastly different images now?) is just more myth about Scotland. This is a fine forum for setting straight the bits and pieces, the warp and the weft, the real and the most certainly unreal.

Very best wishes for a happy 2013.

Very true Rex! Happy New Year to all my fellow X markers everywhere!!

[Robert Berry-Keith]

I can only speak for myself about why I wear a kilt...

I am proud to be a member of Clan Keith. None in Scotland know me, but the Clan Keith society does. I have learned some of family history, which I have shared with my grown children. It gives me an opportunity to talk about family histories to my high school students. Nearly all of my students are African American, and they respond to my interest in a family and cultural history. Many of them identify with Africa, but few can actually trace their lineage as their ancestors did not travel first class when they voyaged to the New World.

A black woman once laughed at me in my kilt, and asked what I was wearing. I replied, "It's a Scottish dashiki." She immediately understood and smiled. Few of my white students seem to know or care about their heritage.

I don't want my own kids to lose their history. They got a laugh when we went to the recent US/Scotland soccer friendly here in Jacksonville. I wore my kilt and a US soccer shirt. As we entered the stadium, I saw a fellow in full regalia. I walked over to him and eventually asked of his clan. He replied, "Clan Gunn." I laughed, and said, "I am Clan Keith. I drank to the peace between our families just last year." We shook hands...he knew of the ancient feud that was only recently settled between our houses. I returned to my sons and said, "50,000 fans here, I go up to a Gunn. How amazing is that?"

[Nathan]

I know this is an older thread, so forgive me for reviving it - but it occurs to me that although Scotland adopted the kilt as a national dress, to be fair, it is really a Highland form of dress. As a Gael from a bona fide Gaeltachd, I'm just as much a decendant of those kilt wearing Highlanders as a present day Scot. Why are the Glens of the Scottish Highlands so empty? It's because we were all evicted and moved to Nova Scotia, Glengarry, Ontario, New Zealand, Virginia, the Carolinas, Australia... to make room for the Cheviot sheep whose products we hold so dear. In some places those people assimilated, intermarried, lost their connection to Alba. For them, the interest in things Highland/Scottish is an exercise in "exploring their roots". There's certainly absolutely nothing wrong with that. For others, they just thought it was cool, did a little research and found a connection. In the case of places like Cape Breton, New Scotland, and Glengarry, Ontario, its more a question of celebrating, protecting and preserving our culture rather than discovering it.

But when asked "am I a Scot or a person with Scots ancestry?" I think the question is odd. I am a diaspora Gael. A Highland Scot. A Canadian Scot. A Scottish Canadian... whatever... I'm a Scot in the same way a Siamese cat is a siamese cat even if it's never been to Thailand... Actually much moreso since I grew up immersed in the names, music, language, dance, food and culture that was brought with those Highlanders...

In the end, the kilt is the dress of my forefathers in Scotland and in Canada. Generations of my Clan have fought wearing the kilt. It might be the national dress of a Doric speaking Glaswegian, but it was the clothing of my forefathers, not his (well maybe some of his;).

That being said, I'm very happy that Scotland isn't fighting between the Gall and the Gael and that there is national unity around this garment. That said, the sad fact is that most of the descendants of the daily kilt (or feileadh mhor) wearers are abroad.

So to the OP's question - I don't know how Scots who live in Scotland view Scots who live in the diaspora I just hope they know of what they speak before forming an opinion... As for my people, we're not Scots because we wanna be, we're Scots cause we can't help it. It's in our blood, bones and daily life.

[McClef]

You would be hard pressed to find the kilt as other than a Highland garment prior to the visit of King George IV to Edinburgh in 1822 within Scotland itself.

The diaspora would have been mainly Highlanders following the disastrous uprisings such as the '15 and the '45, reinforced by the Highland Clearances of the 1840s and 50s. Descent and culture would come from such displaced ancestors in the New World. It was probably better preserved than in many parts of Scotland until the Victorian passion for Scotland followed Victoria and Albert.

The lowland culture was more to do with the enlightenment and with industry but merging began as those highlanders that did not emigrate moved south and travel in both directions became much easier with the growth of the railways. The "Doric speaking Glaswegian" would still have come from Aberdeen.

Of course there are more folk of Scots ancestry living abroad than there are natives. The same applies for the Welsh and Irish and even the English. How folk reconcile their feelings and their roots can be very complicated but there is clearly a hunger for folk to do so.