wearing kilts in Scotland

[highlander_Daz]

Hamish is correct about accents, most people think the "Scottish" accent is like broad Glasgow-wheras in fact theres tons of variants, places on the east coast -North Brewick, Dunbar, Eyemouth have the only a hint of an accent, we sometimes look on in bewilderment when TV programmes and films , supposedly set in the Highlands and the accents are all from Glasgow !!
it like watching an eposode of "Dallas" and JR and co all have Brooklyn accents. Recently 2 men In Scotland suffered a serious assault by local neds because they were wearing the Kilt! but thats an exception rather than the rule.

[macwilkin]

...And Aberdonians speak a whole other language! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

[erudite]

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I always refer my Utilikilt as an "American Kilt".

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Virtually everyone who has ever asked me about my Utilikilts, Amerikilts, Savannah Kilt, even my Mountain Kilt(!) has been astounded that such clothing is made in America and not Scotland!!

To bring this back on topic, Colin it is your patriotic DUTY to pack one UK, and wear it once in Scotland. Hamish has given you all of the ammunition you need. "We colonists have taken a grand thing and tidied it up for life in North America." If you have black UK, all the better. Clan McCabre. BRILLIANT!
Have a great trip. If you don't take a kilt you'll be jonesin!

[Murphy Stout]

I know this topic is kind of old, but I thought I'd add my $.02 if no one minds. I'm going to Scotland next spring and personally won't be taking my kilt. I would feel too touristy.

Last year when I was in Galway, Ireland I did see quite a few Scottish tourists kilted. There was a group of about 10 young Scots I saw literally everyday that I was there who were always in their kilts. I heard someone say outside a pub they thought they were Americans, but their accents sounded pretty genuinely Scottish to me, and one was a pretty good Highland dancer. A few buskers playing pipes in kilts around Galway and Dublin, too.

[Scotus]

I don't think you have to worry about a topic being too "old." If you have something to add, then feel free... no matter how old the topic.

I happen to think you make a very good point. I think the kilt is not worn so much in Ireland because, and I know some guys don't like to hear this, it is more of a "Scottish thing." Now, having said that, and knowing there are a lot of people who wear the kilt in Scotland, especially the younger guys at rugby matches and football games, like yourself, I wouldn't want to be singled out as a "tourist." It just depends on how much you want to go around and worry about such a thing.

[Thistle Stop]

I feel like you guys worry too much about being labelled a 'tourist'. For one thing, you ARE a tourist, LOL! But seriously, if you wear your kilt just as you do at home (or as I hope you do), like it's no big deal, just ordinary clothing (so to speak -- though of course we all know there's something 'special' about a kilt!), you need not be self-conscious anywhere. Wear it properly, with accessories appropriate to the occasion, and I doubt anyone would take offense.

[Mike1]

I think that there is too much emphasis placed on kilts being "touristy" in Scotland. There are areas of Scotland where a kilt is moreso the rule and not the exception. Tomward, where are you?

My "tank" will be making the trip with me, no question about it. I will be making a trip from Bridge of Allan to Dunoon, to visit the Lamont Memorial and the castle ruins at Toward. How could I not wear my Lamont tartan for that? What could POSSIBLY be more appropriate to wear as I visit my ancestral home? I will also wear it to Lanark for the close of the Walk for Wallace event.

A "tourist" is the guy at Disney World in the dress shirt, shorts, sandals and dark socks. (Don't laugh, you've seen the guy too!) If you are kilted in an appropriate manner, you are not going to attract any more attention that somebody driving a car with a rental agency sticker in the back window.

[Roscommoner]

Traditional Tartan kilts are almost exclusively seen in scotland, Modern "kilts" dont seem to have caught on at all in the eyes of most scots they are not realy kilts, recently two scots TV presenters appered at an award show in plain black and plain white "kilts" and there was a number of letters to the newspapers bemoning these garmets to the effect that they are not Kilts, but skirts for men. a firm in Scotland called 21st Century Kilts makes these as well as Vin Diesels Leather "kilt" . I think to most people in the street a "kilt" is associated with scotland and has a Tartan pattern, I am not keen on the modern designs, Ive never worn one and I really do feel they look like skirts to most unenlightened people.

Their misconception shouldn't become my problem. The Irish wore solid color saffron kilts with their leine long before Utilikilts and other solid color kilts (and yes, they are kilts; no offense to anyone, but despite what the "scot on the street" thinks, scotland doesn't have a monopoly on kilts). More pointedly, "Highland Socities" comprised primarily of aristocratic non-highlanders were responsible for much of the revival of the kilt during the Romantic Revival of the 19th Century.

Wikipedia also has this interesting tidbit to add

The Garment's name comes from the Scots word kilt meaning to tuck up the clothes around the body. The Scots word derives from the Old Norse "kjilt", which means "pleated", from Viking settlers who wore a similar, non-tartan pleated garment.

I think that "tartan" and "kilt" became associated with scotland/scottish nationality/ancestry/whatever only because of the interpretations of the aforementioned non-highlanders, and this is a misconception that needs to be confronted and eradicated. The "Tartan" kilt is obviously a creation of scotland, there is no doubt about that, but the "kilt" itself has been around along time, and as a part of several different cultures. Utilikilts, freedomkilts, etc, all fall under umbrella term of "kilt".

[Murphy Stout]

In the end it's definitely just one's personal opinion. I don't think it's wrong or right if a Canadian or American wants to wear a kilt in Scotland. I personally probably will not bring my kilt, but I see nothing wrong if someone else does and I wouldn't expect a negative reaction to wearing it. It is true, no matter where you are tourists stick out like a sore thumb. When I was in Ireland they could see us coming a mile away, so believe me I have no false pretenses about fitting in and not being thoroughly touristy. We'll be going to Lock Ness, can you beat that? :-) And here in Florida, we can spot the Europeans, Canadians and Yankees a mile off so I expect no less in return. :-P

[Daneel]

I was in Edinburgh on Wednesday of this week and wearing my TFCK and nobody batted an eyelid. Even in various kilt shops. I will be over in Scotland foe 3 weeks on holiday in the summer and I plan to wear both my TFCK and my MacLaren and tough on those who object. Its my history and I am proud of it.