[rant]

The one idea that seems to get lost in these made up, ancient pan-celtic ideas of the kilt is the reason there is a modern kilt. That is very simply Scottish nationalism. The Highland kilt was adopted by lowlanders as a sign of Scottish nationalism. Sir Walter Scott romanticised an independent Scotland and the highland culture (and with it the kilt) as a form of Scottish nationalism, the Highland regiments got the kilt so they would feel Scottish. There would have been no kilt for the Victorians to take an interest in if it were not for Scottish nationalism. The likelihood is it would have gone the way of other forms of dress (yes, like the Irish liene) if it had not been held on to as a symbol.

So arguments about ancient pan celtic cultures sharing the kilt is meaningless, even if it were true, which it isn't. There was no pan-celtic culture the way we like to romanticise in today. They were clans and families mostly working on survival. Clothes were functional rather than cultural. Even today, ask an Irishman what his background is and he will tell you Irish. He's no more likely to say celtic than a Frenchman will tell you European.

In many ways trying to rewrite the history of the kilt would be the equivalent of rewriting the history of the shamrock in Ireland. It stands for something very important in history. This does not mean that someone cannot use the symbol (shamrock or kilt) to symbolise something new (anti-English for example) based on what it already symbolises, but you cannot hijack a history to suit your needs.

When it comes to the kilt, if you want to wear it to symbolise your culture or nationalism, Scottish or otherwise, just don't forget where it came from, why it's here and what it stands for. On the other hand wear it as a comfortable garment...period!


[/end rant]