THCD, Not THCD

[Nathan]

Nathan... I'm glad you agree that what becomes Traditional Highland attire can actually originate outside of the Highlands.
Cheers...

Indeed it can, Liam. Take for example the eagle feather used to symbolize rank with Traditional Highland Civilian Dress. There is no evidence of this existing prior to contact with the North American aboriginals. That said, something only becomes Traditional Highland Civilian Dress when Highland Civilians adopt it. I don't know why this concept bothers you or why you've chosen to raise it continually with me. I wasn't the first on this forum to articulate it nor is it a controversial claim. It is a simple descriptive fact. If something is really popular to wear with a kilt in, say, South Africa but is rarely seen or perhaps maligned as a poor choice in the Highlands of Scotland, what claim would it have to be traditional Highland civilian dress? I'm merely repeating the notion that in order for something to be considered the traditional dress of a people it has to be adopted and accepted by that people.

I'm a diaspora Highland Scot and I am very connected to the culture of my home island of Cape Breton. Notwithstanding the fact that the dominant culture on the Island is diaspora Highland Gaels, if we do something that diverges from Scotland, it becomes our traditional culture, not theirs.

N