Mall question: Are You Scottish?

[Barclay]

Is it?... I don't particularly see a kilts rebellion or protest going on anywhere.

.

Except maybe the malls in Phoenix.

I say lighten up and politely explain how you feel. Stop being so DAMN SENSITIVE. If you like a kilt, wear one, but stop all this boo hooing about someone elses view.

Aye. Well said.

Like it or not, there is an affiliation between kilts and Scotland in the minds of most people.

[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

[andyfg]

Today it happened to me for the second time. This guy in the mall purposely stopped me and asked me if I was Scottish.

Thinking about this, I find as many folk as me if I am Irish as Scottish when they see the kilt. I know back in the UK the association is kilts and Scots. Here in NY I do not think the connection is as strong — perhaps something vaguely Scots/Irish/Celtic.

[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?

[NewKilt]

Today it happened to me for the second time. This guy in the mall purposely stopped me and asked me if I was Scottish. I was wearing an olive green original Utilikilt. Does that look Scottish?

Well, to those of us on this board it doesn't look Scottish, but to the layperson they are recognizing it as a kilt and making the association of kilts with Scotland. I've been asked several times if I was Scottish when wearing Utilikilts, even when wearing a UK Mocker, the most skirt-like of the UK's.

Myself, I'm pleased when people make the connection between kilts and Scotland, whether I'm wearing a Utilikilt or one of my traditional wools that were made in Scotland. That's the origin, and many brave men (Scot or not) have and do wear it.

Certainly nothing wrong with a reply that you (and the kilt you are wearing) are not Scottish and you simply wear a kilt for comfort. Let folks come to their own conclusion about that.

While taking one of my daily walks in the park I got invited to a company picnic because I was wearing a Carmel Utilikilt Workman's. I no longer work, and did not even work for the company that was having the picnic. It all started because of the kilt not being a tartan, and it having pockets. Again - it was associated with Scotland. Great conversation, great food, and I could have had all the beer I wanted to drink (had to settle for iced tea - my medications and alcohol don't like each other). When I had to leave, I was sent on my way with a drink container full of iced tea, and the words "the Scots and Irish got it right" even though they knew by then that my kilt was American made - nothing wrong with that - and thank goodness for that inch or so of float in the Utilikilt waist band - I needed it.

Darrell

[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!!!

[michael steinrok]

Hey at least he thought you were Scottish. Some jack@$$ actually mused out loud about my sexual orientation. But he wqas old so I let it slide off my back,and ignored him. Ah Ignorance, how blissful you are to the weak-minded.