Wearing the kilt in Scotland

[Calgacus]

With regards to CeilidhDoc's unfortunate experience, St. Andrews is a bit of a special case. It is a small town with a very large student population, to the extent that for 8 or 9 months of the year the whole place just seems like one big university campus. Some of the local resident youth seem to become resentful of this for whatever reason, and 'student bashing' is not unknown, with non-Scots being the preferred (but not exclusive) target. It was a problem when I attended the university from 1988-1992, and I dare say it's still a problem now. There is of course no justification for it, and I struggle to find an explanation for it either as I guess my mind doesn't work the same way as theirs.

As the university and its students bring employment, money, tourism, colour and vibrancy to what would otherwise be a tiny sleepy ex-fishing village, you'd think they'd be welcomed by the local population, as they indeed are by most, it's just a small minority of ignorant thugs that are at the root of the problem.

I can only apologise to CeilidhDoc for his experience, and I'm glad that he otherwise enjoyed his time in the town, as indeed I did. Possibly the best four years of my life.

[Jock Scot]

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In any case, when a native Scot would welcome someone of Scottish ancestry by calling him 'cousin', it is more of a generic term recognizing their ancestry. After all, there are tens of thousands more people of Scottish ancestry living abroad than the sum total of ALL native Scots living in Scotland.

I am sorry to disillusion you, but I have never heard a native Scot welcome anyone, let alone strangers that may have Scottish ancestry, as "cousin". In my experience, being on the receiving end of that turn of phrase is regarded as sarcastic and even mildly insulting and is best left unsaid. Just so you know.

[Ron Abbott]

In my experience.......ditto what he says!

[Calgacus]

To the Scottish members living in Scotland who kilt regularly, where and when do you like to wear the kilt? In what contexts?
@Jock Scot @Calgacus @Jordan @MacRobert's Reply ?

Sorry for the late reply, Nathan, I have been away for the past couple of weeks. I wear my kilt to anything vaguely resembling an 'occasion', and I also wear it when I am walking in the highlands, which I used to do every weekend, though less so in the past couple of years having invested so much time, money and effort into my new house.

I am considering wearing it at weekends at home as well, but I need to work on the girlfriend a bit first. I'm not likely to wear it during the week, as my job takes me down into the workshops on occasion, where it would not be appropriate, and I tend not to change when I get home in the evenings either.

[BCAC]

@Jock Scot Jock, we have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, but I'm lead to understand that you do not speak with a scots accent? Does this cause any problems when you wear your kilt?

[Mel1721L]

@Jock Scot Jock, we have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, but is 'm lead to understand that you do not speak with a scots accent? Does this cause any problems when you wear your kilt?

Please excuse me, I know this was addressed to Jock Scot, but I have to say my accent is English and although I wear Welsh plaid, I always feel self conscious about my accent and feel I have to explain why I'm wearing a kilt every time I open my mouth.

[Jock Scot]

@Jock Scot Jock, we have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, but I'm lead to understand that you do not speak with a scots accent? Does this cause any problems when you wear your kilt?

I have no Scots accent, I lost that at about the age of 7 when I was educted in England. Does it cause a problem? Not at all, although it sometimes does cause some bemused looks from those that don't know me.

[kilttrip]

I am sorry to disillusion you, but I have never heard a native Scot welcome anyone, let alone strangers that may have Scottish ancestry, as "cousin". In my experience, being on the receiving end of that turn of phrase is regarded as sarcastic and even mildly insulting and is best left unsaid. Just so you know.

My apologies, Jock Scot. I cannot verify where I first heard of this, but it was obviously erroneous. I stand humbly corrected.

[Jock Scot]

My apologies, Jock Scot. I cannot verify where I first heard of this, but it was obviously erroneous. I stand humbly corrected.

No worries my dear chap, I do understand this "cousin" thing is very much a trans-Atlantic thing, but as we are discovering with your very useful thread, what happens on one side of the pond does not necessarily happen on the other.

[kilttrip]

No worries my dear chap, I do understand this "cousin" thing is very much a trans-Atlantic thing, but as we are discovering with your very useful thread, what happens on one side of the pond does not necessarily happen on the other.

Well said, Jock Scot.