I think traditions can develop very quickly - I don't see a reason to have a specific numbers of years. We have "traditions" in my household and we've only been together for about a dozen years, although I do like the idea that a tradition is somehow validated by being passed on the a younger generation (and by this I mean it has passed the test of a new generation).

So sure, the style of the popular knife-pleated kilt seen today is a traditional style. I have no problem with that. But so is the older four-yard box-pleated style that Matt Newsome is championing. And so is the "wear whatever tartan happens to suit your fancy" style.

I accept that these latter two traditions have fallen out of general observance, but is something less traditional because it is less observed? I don't think so, and especially not for those few that do continue to observe it.

The problem develops, I believe, when one starts to say that any particular tradition is *the* tradition. As I have said, traditions only develop when they replace previous traditions, so no traditions are pure. Let's not forget that at some point in the now forgotten past someone gathered up some cloth and wore it kilt-like, and everyone else probably looked at him and said "what he's doing?" and condemned him as some sort of rebel.

Kevin