Alternative kilt pins

[An t-Ileach]

I just managed to tear a small hole in my Government Tartan kilt (courtesy of Unionkilts - the kilt, that is, not the hole) as a bit of the fabric got trapped under the loop of the nappy-pin kilt pin I was using.

This one:

The hole was just big enough for the prong on an old regimental cap badge to fit through, so now I have a regimental kilt pin:

[KiltedKnight]

Well said, James.

I would like to show my German heritage (from my mother) in the form of a pin on my kilt or sporran, but I haven't been able to come up with a good German symbol. Any suggestions?

I spent years in Germany with the US Army and while I was there I picked up some fantastic pewter pins in most cities that I visited which are now plastered all over three Alpine caps that hang in my room. If you know what city your mother's people are from, get that particular pewter pin and use it. Some of these pins are really beautiful and might make a great kilt pin.

Chris.

[Scottish Chi]

Bill,

I think the frog pin is rather cool. When you go to a Scottish games and compare it to everyone else who is wearing a sword or a celtic knot, you can know that you have something unique. Isn't wearing kilts all about marching to a different (though Highland) drummer?

Cheers

Thanks Panache. I hope to be wearing it at Grandfather Mt. soon. Three items that have importance for me to represent - the kilt (for my Scottish heritage), the frog pin (for my French heritage) and the X Marks t-shirt (for my association with this community). I'm proud of all three.

That drummer, by the way, has been with me for over 58 years and has always proven to select the right march.

Cheers! Bill

[Riverkilt]

Um, Chi....

Someone more knowledgeable than me please correct me if I'm wrong....but isn't "Frog" considered a very derogetory word when used to describe the French?

Ron

[Scottish Chi]

Riverkilt,
Yes, I believe you are correct. If I recall it was in reference to the type of closure used on coats. Kind of like a cloth version of a button.

It was used in the past (particularly by the English) to be insulting in somewhat of the same way as the French Acadians, who migrated to Lousiana as a result of more English abuse in Canada years prior, were refered to as Cajuns and Coonass (additional insults). However, as sometimes happens people will use a derogatory reference and turn it into a term of pride. A way of thumbing your nose (or turning around and raising your kilt while regimental) and showing the person making the insult what you think of their efforts to belittle you.

Within the last few years the French have again taken verbal abuse (ie Freedom Fries, etc.) which may or may not have been deserved. This is my little way of showing pride in that side of my family heritage while making a statement.

Cheers! Bill

[Riverkilt]

I Should have known....

Good you've done that and know what it means to you.

Ron

[macwilkin]

Riverkilt,
Yes, I believe you are correct. If I recall it was in reference to the type of closure used on coats. Kind of like a cloth version of a button.

It was used in the past (particularly by the English) to be insulting in somewhat of the same way as the French Acadians, who migrated to Lousiana as a result of more English abuse in Canada years prior, were refered to as Cajuns and Coonass (additional insults). However, as sometimes happens people will use a derogatory reference and turn it into a term of pride. A way of thumbing your nose (or turning around and raising your kilt while regimental) and showing the person making the insult what you think of their efforts to belittle you.

Within the last few years the French have again taken verbal abuse (ie Freedom Fries, etc.) which may or may not have been deserved. This is my little way of showing pride in that side of my family heritage while making a statement.

Cheers! Bill

Bill,

As a Cajun "by the ring and by the backdoor", as well as the proud husband of a Cajun, let me just say:

Good on ya, Mate!

If we ever meet in person, first pint is on me.

L'Acadie & Ecosse Tojours!

Todd

[MacWage]

Riverkilt,
Yes, I believe you are correct. If I recall it was in reference to the type of closure used on coats. Kind of like a cloth version of a button.

It was used in the past (particularly by the English) to be insulting in somewhat of the same way as the French Acadians, who migrated to Lousiana as a result of more English abuse in Canada years prior, were refered to as Cajuns and Coonass (additional insults). However, as sometimes happens people will use a derogatory reference and turn it into a term of pride. A way of thumbing your nose (or turning around and raising your kilt while regimental) and showing the person making the insult what you think of their efforts to belittle you.

Within the last few years the French have again taken verbal abuse (ie Freedom Fries, etc.) which may or may not have been deserved. This is my little way of showing pride in that side of my family heritage while making a statement.

Cheers! Bill

"There are Frogs in Paris!!" :rolleyes:

Ethnic and cultural nicknames/derogatory terms/self identifications OFTEN mutate over time and the implications of the terms RADICALLY differ from time to time and place to place.

I'll stop before I offend someone :rolleyes:

Some Atlanta Cracker, :rolleyes: (Also-an old, VERY GOOD, minor league baseball term in pre-Braves Georgia, USA)

[smaughazard]

"There are Frogs in Paris!!" :rolleyes:

Ethnic and cultural nicknames/derogatory terms/self identifications OFTEN mutate over time and the implications of the terms RADICALLY differ from time to time and place to place.

I'll stop before I offend someone :rolleyes:

Some Atlanta Cracker, :rolleyes: (Also-an old, VERY GOOD, minor league baseball term in pre-Braves Georgia, USA)

MacWage, I don't know if you are aware that there was, in segregated days, another Atlanta minor-league them: the Atlanta Black Crackers!

Consider the use of "cracker" in current black slang…

(Courtesy of a friend who collects minor-league jerseys- he has the Atlanta Crackers, the Atlanta Black Crackers, and the Toledo Mud Hens among many others!)

I thought the "frog" pin was quite nice, Bill- I'll look forward both to seeing it and to meeting you at Grandfather.

[MacWage]

The Atlanta Black Crackers were only in the negro major leagues for ONE year. It won the 1938 pennant and split the overall title with the Kansas City Monarchs (they couldn't find any fields to play a series that one team or the other wouldn't feel a cheat was on). They rest of their existance, they dominated the Negro Southern League/Association (in its many forms) and had MUCH support of Earl Mann (owner of the "white" Crackers) and the "other" team itself. In fact, many of the Black Crackers uniforms were hand-me-downs and "over buys" of the Crackers.

Let's say I've heard of them.

I also have a mid 50s repro jersey, making a 30s-mid 50s jersey, and about 8 different team hat reproductions (the hat I wore at the Greenville games was a 40s reproduction).

Ironically, the Crackers were the ONLY attempt to integrate in the Southern Association, in 1954, and played disegregated ball games in the segretated states (including one series, against the 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers, DIRECTLY under threat of a KKK bombing from the Grand Dragon himself- the Crackers won 1 and lost 2).

They were GOOD-> 17 pennants from 1902-1965 and 22 from 1885-1965, the second best record in ALL baseball (only lost to the contemporary New York Yankees-> Heard of them?). I find it ironic that the best records are the Yankees and the second best are the Crackers (or is it just the Southerner in me).

Historical degression-> the term cracker is likely derived from an old Scots term for a story teller (like "cracking a joke") or one who excells at something (a crack shot). Linguists and anthropolgists have expended much ink and air on this (see Grady McWhitney's "Cracker Culture" - University of Alabama Press, 1988), but (again)-> NOT POINT OF THREAD!!

Let's say I've heard of them (almost used a team logo as an avatar, but backed off BECAUSE of the possible implication of assumptions-> I am actually about as far from racist as is possible).


Back to topic->

Unusual kilt pins are a GREAT way to show individuality, especially for eclectic people like me.

I like the frog, especially the "tongue-in-cheek" nature of it, especially in casual circumstances. A Fleur-de-leis would be a great homage in a more formal setting. It reminds me of the Auld Alliance (Scotland and France).

I have even used a "Sith" hat pin (but it was just to small, so out it came).

I am making a kilt in something VERY close to "Green Stewart" (missing the small blue stripes) out of some wool fabric I found years ago and planned for car accessories. It is to match My Miata in mid-60s Lotus racing colors (green car, yellow stripe, black carpet and red seat/door panels and silver accents). I am thinking of sewing a custom patch to it as a "kilt pin."

Now, how to find an Atlanta Crackers kilt pin . . . :rolleyes: and a kilt in "team colors" :rolleyes: . . .