Kilt Culture

[macwilkin]

Oh dear, and here I was avoiding my homework, now you're giving me some.
wait, if I admit to avoiding my homework here Yeti will give me the evil eye and make me do it anyway.

Yep, that's what we history teachers do best!

Seriously, check it out. Ray is a sociologist and her insights on the Scottish-American community are very interesting. You'll find quite a bit of similarities to the reenacting sub-culture, although the book is not as funny as Tony Horowitz's Confederates in the Attic.

Cheers,

Todd*

*ex-reenactor. I still do some living history now then for USNPS.

[auld argonian]

Since you asked...and, really, no one around here ever really asks; they just think I've gone looney and keep quiet hoping that this is just a phase that i will grow out of...

I've known about the Scottish side of my family for a long time. They're the ones who have always seemed to have been the more adventurous and artistic ones and I flatter myself in thinking that I've got more of their characteristics than those of the other parts of my family...certainly, from the standpoint of appearance, I look like all of those old photos of my mom's dad's people.

The kilt thing never seemed like anything that made much sense but then I was watching TV one night and saw Monarch of the Glen and there was Duncan. Duncan is/was the handyman on the estate in Monarch and he always wore a kilt...usually with a t-shirt and a leather jacket and combat boots. It just looked like a very normal way to dress...a definite alternative to "conventional" dress but another choice and it looked a bit more fun and a bit more dashing (I felt desperately in need of some dash in my life...this is way back when I was about 52)...so what the hell.

I started looking online for kilts and saw nothing but major $$$$'s seemed to be involved until I found this bunch of nutters who pointed me in the direction of "starter kilts". I still don't have THE TANK yet but I do have a couple of wool 5 yarders and a USAK casual and a couple of SWK's...got an Argyle Jacket from ebay recently...sporrans. I'm not an "every day kilted" guy...just an "I wear it now and again...couple times a week, depending" kind of kiltie.

How have the people around me reacted? My daughter (now 16) thinks it's great and is my co-conspirator and co-kiltie. My son (19) thinks it's ridiculous and has "blogged" about how dumb it is on his facebook pages. Sadly for me, my wife doesn't seem to think that there's any "dash" happening at all...I had hoped that she would have found it a tad romantic and fun but no dice. I have a very good friend (a woman) who is convinced that I have become a cross-dresser...her husband (also my friend) kind of gets it but is still uncomfortable around me when I show up in a kilt. I get the usual number of younger people who think it's cool and a couple of insults thrown at me once and a while. All in all, I'm proud to wear it and I enjoy it.

And so it goes.

It has brought me here to this forum and this has been a great experience with some really super people who are smart, witty, over-educated (you know who you are!) and united in their kiltiness. I've had the pleasure to have had a beer or two with several of them and that's been pretty good.

Wouldn't change a thing.

Best

AA

[Chef]

Well in my case, nothing brought me to kilting...it was just there. I have worn a kilt since I was three, so before I can actually remember. So for me it was just a piece of clothing. When we came to this country I still had kilts the only difference was now I was wearing them because I was Scottish, which now set me apart. In those days (when I was a teenager) it was almost always worn formally, so church, parties etc.. today I wear it partly because I am Scottish, partly because it is intertwined with my business and partly because I like it.

You mentioned the "kilt culture" which frankly I don't get. I think of the kilt as a piece of Scottish men's clothing. No offence to anyone, but I don't understand why anyone who isn't Scottish wants to wear one or, for that matter, why a woman wants to wear one. I know the big argument is comfort but I am certain that there are plenty of garments that are more comfortable. Again no offence is meant and I have repeatedly stated that I don't get it. As discussed in previous threads, it is probably because my experiences are so much different than other members when it comes to wearing kilts that I don't relate to many of the experiences of other members of xmarks.

So often, I feel like an outsider peering in on the "kilt culture" you mentioned even though I wear one regularly.

[CactusJack]

Those are very good questions so I will try and answer them as best I can.

What brought me to kilting was something I wanted to try, My wife had been tryingfor several years to get me to go to the ren faire here in St Louis and last year after attending the local Piratefest she asked me again about going to the renfaire.
I said that I would if I could wear a kilt ( I was dead serious when I said that)
She looks me in the face and say Okay so thats how it really started and after wearing one to a party earlier this year I was hooked. I don't wear them full time but I do as often as I can.

So you know how my wife feels about me wearin the kilt, by the way she has bought me all three of the ones I own, Two of my daughters would not be caught dead with there dad if he's wearing a kilt and my youngest daughter thinks it's neat. I will get back to you on the rest of the family after Christmas as I will be wearing one when we get togerther on Christmas Eve.

[string]

"over-educated (you know who you are!)"

still working on that one

[auld argonian]

"over-educated (you know who you are!)"

still working on that one

Said in jest because on this forum no question ever goes unanswered and no answer ever goes unchallenged.

Best

AA

[string]

Oh I know, I'm rather fond of the over-educated. It's a family tradition to have a nice degree and do a job you love that you don't need the degree for.

[TheSp8]

Well, I've always liked the look of kilts and been stirred by the sound of the pipes. A couple of years ago while searching the net I came across this site which led to a good deal on an inexpensive kilt to start out. Now 6 trads and 2 UKs later the only time I wear trousers is when in uniform.

As indian influenced trans-appalachan frontier trash I love my breech-clout and wool leggings. They are much more comfortable than most modern dress but the kilt beats it by a hair.

YMOS,
Tony

[Arizona Scot]

I only recently came into kilting, I was adopted an early age by the man I regard as my father. For that matter I always will, but I grew up with a German sir name. Recently I started checking into my biological fathers history. Medical reasons and such, and discovered that I was of Scottish decent. With ties to the Gordon Clan, and I thought it would be great to explore and learn more about my heritage. The kilt grew out of that, as for my family they range from indefferance to uneasiness.

[slohairt]

Well, I was born in Ireland and have a Scottish grandmother...who also happened to be a kiltmaker's apprentice in her youth! So I was doomed from the start. It's in the blood.