Mall question: Are You Scottish?

[macwilkin]

We can declare victory when kilts are seen as not just a Scottish thing, as jeans are no longer seen as just cowboy attire.

Of course, there are those of us who wear the kilt because it is a "Scottish thing", and are proud of the history and tradition behind it.

Regards,

Todd

[An t-Ileach]

Surely there were enough Scots who built America, and contributed to its culture (psalm singing, for example, or Gaelic in North Carolina) for the kilt to qualify as an American garb that was there before denim jeans were invented?

[Kilted KT]

Surely there were enough Scots who built America, and contributed to its culture (psalm singing, for example, or Gaelic in North Carolina) for the kilt to qualify as an American garb that was there before denim jeans were invented?

I'd have to agree. While kilts have been around for a good long time, Jeans weren't worn for must else besides work until the last hundred years or so.

here is a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeans

[jfellrath]

I get this question almost more than any other. Or, I'm also asked "are you Irish," and usually by people who are obviously trying to do one of two things:

1. Place my kilt-wearing into a portion of their brain that has been, through previous experience with kilts and such, conditioned for their understanding of my wearing it.
2. Show off that they know that kilts are Scottish (or show off that they "know" kilts are Irish - quotes are intentional).

I can usually pick out which they are by the look on their faces - if they look quizzical, it's #1. If they look smug, it's #2.

My answer to the asker is generally "yes, but I'd wear it even if I wasn't because it's so darned comfortable." If I get the "Irish" comment, I look at them strangely while I say "Well, kilts aren't Irish. I just wear this because I like it."

Perhaps it's a bit immature, but I really get a private kick out of deflating the egos of people who are smug about having bad information. For more on this, please see my sig. ;)

[keepoffgrass]

Of course, there are those of us who wear the kilt because it is a "Scottish thing", and are proud of the history and tradition behind it.

Regards,

Todd

Yeah, I doubt I would have ever considered buying a kilt if not for my Scottish ancestry. I love my kilt and my heritage. I myself hope they dont ever become all to popular, or just another fad. If every other guy in town wore a kilt would this group be here? Or for those of us with Scottish ancestry, wear our kilts and say, "This is my heritage, I wear it proudly" if someone asks about it.

Face it, if you wear a kilt, it is something thats out of the "norm". People are going to look and ask questions. "Are you Scottish?" is going to be a common question thats asked. A kilt is a peice of ethnic clothing. Would you walk around in lederhosen and not expect someone to ask if you were German?

[ScottEPooh]

Would you walk around in lederhosen and not expect someone to ask if you were German?[/QUOTE]

I do have a lot of German heritage, and I would NEVER walk around in lederhosen. Give me my kilt any day!!!

[Sindarius]

Yeah, I doubt I would have ever considered buying a kilt if not for my Scottish ancestry. I love my kilt and my heritage. I myself hope they dont ever become all to popular, or just another fad. If every other guy in town wore a kilt would this group be here? Or for those of us with Scottish ancestry, wear our kilts and say, "This is my heritage, I wear it proudly" if someone asks about it.

I could not have said it better myself. I'm not trying to make a fashion statement and while I certainly enjoy the freedom of the kilt, it is not the reason I wear it. For me it all comes down to heritage.

[Hamish]

I very much doubt if I have been asked, "Are you Scottish?" more than a dozen times in all my 56 years of kilt wearing! Most of those occasions will have been whilst I was 'on show' doing my stewarding work for The National Trust at Petworth House in the past five years. One is somewhat a target in situations like that, where visitors are coming up to ask questions about the house and its contents anyway. Any questions about the kilt, and they are very few really, are usually thrown in as little extras before the questioner goes on his or her way.

I am still convinced that this has a lot to do with the 'British reserve', for which we are known. As a nation, we are shy of asking such direct questions of strangers. Similarly, compliments are not given as freely as they appear to be in the USA and, even when they are, more often than not, they are remarks made in passing so that one has to turn around to offer thanks!

Strange as it may seem (!), I am a victim of this myself. At the Harpenden Highland Gathering last month, I noticed a chap wearing a very smart-looking navy kilt with the Saltire emblazoned across the front apron - it was the kilt itself that looked so good. Several times during the day I was going to ask him where he bought the kilt but felt too embarrassed to do so. Eventually, I did summon up the courage to approach him to compliment him on his fine kilt, but it took me a while to prepare myself.

Do any of my United Kingdom brethren have similar opinions - or problems?

[Andrewson]

I very much doubt if I have been asked, "Are you Scottish?" more than a dozen times in all my 56 years of kilt wearing! ....

I am still convinced that this has a lot to do with the 'British reserve', for which we are known. As a nation, we are shy of asking such direct questions of strangers. Similarly, compliments are not given as freely as they appear to be in the USA and, even when they are, more often than not, they are remarks made in passing so that one has to turn around to offer thanks!
...

Do any of my United Kingdom brethren have similar opinions - or problems?

Well I seem to be asked if I'm Scottish quite frequently when kilted. I can answer quite truthfully that I am Scottish born and bred but I always add that you don't have to be Scottish to wear a kilt. And even though I really want to transmit the message that anyone can enjoy the comfort of the kilt, I get the impression that most people don't really believe me. They quiz me about my clan and when, as is sometimes the case, I am not wearing one of my clan tartans they seem quite shocked. The remnants of my Scottish accent are enough to convince them that I really am Scottish yet here I am "breaking the rules" and inviting them to join me in the felony! It doesn't square with their preconceptions.

As to "British reserve", Hamish, I think it would be more accurate to say "English reserve". One of the first things I noticed on coming to live in England was that the natives were quite a lot more reserved about expressing opinions to total strangers in the street (much less so in the pub) than I had been used to in Scotland, especially in Glasgow. Even today my immediate family - all born in England - get embarrassed when I let my curiosity get the better of me and I question total strangers or make comments (including compliments) to them. I rather suspect that my Welsh and Irish compatriots might feel the same. Do the other Scots here - and the Welsh and Irish - feel the same as I do?