To kilt or not to kilt: A St. Paddy's Day conundrum

[Arlen]

I think a lot of people have an issue with people wearing a Kilt on St. Patrick's day because there are so many people now who just think 'The Kilt was Irish first.' I know myself that I bridle at some of the pub historians who tell me the history of everything Scottish which is actually Irish.
I certainly believe that the Kilt has come to represent a lot of 'Celtic' cultures because they have adopted it.
I think that's great. But I do like people to know the proper history of things and are willing to learn more when they are wrong. (I'd be an idiot if I hadn't learned that lesson.

So I would say go ahead and wear the Kilt if you want to, but wear it with the knowledge that some people don't know the history of the Kilt and may make incorrect assumptions. (And will, sometimes, REFUSE to admit they are wrong.)

I will be wearing my Kilt on St. Patrick's day because I wear my kilt every day.
That said, I won't be celebrating St. Patrick's day.

[Chef]

I certainly believe that the Kilt has come to represent a lot of 'Celtic' cultures because they have adopted it.

I here what you saying Arlen, but I think it is a case where a few people from Celtic cultures (other than Scotland) have adopted it. I do not believe it is recognised generally as a "celtic" garment in those cultures/countries. I have been to Ireland (north and south) many times in my life and the easiest way to be picked out as Scottish is to wear my kilt. I have never had anyone think I was Irish (even before they spoke to me) while wearing a kilt. The only other response is one of the same I get in America. "are you in a band?"

In all honesty I think the kilt manufactures and sellers have more to do with the idea of the pan-celtic kilt than anything else.

When, I go to Ireland (or any other celtic nation for that matter) and the majority of people I meet, don't think I'm a visiting Scotsman or in a band when they see the kilt, then I'll buy the idea. Until then the idea of the kilt as a pan-celtic garment is a non-starter.

By the way, I don't consider Americans who think the kilt is Irish because the Emerald Society Pipe Band wears them, or because they only see pipe bands on St. Patricks Day as proof that the kilt has been adopted by Ireland. That's just people being ignorant.

[Arlen]

There are plenty of 'Celtic Nations' who now have kilts they have officially endorsed. Does it make the general populace consider kilts to be theirs? Not really.

In my experiences I've had more than a few Irishmen, sober drunk and 'Plastic Paddys' alive, inform me that the Kilt is actually from Ireland.
I've likewise heard those self same types inform me that they hate when people wear kilts if they are not Scottish.
The whole situation is a breeding ground for arguments because there are so many opinions, beliefs and desires flying about.

For the record, the majority of people I have met who consider the Kilt Irish do so because of the Irish regiments who adopted the Kilt.


Like I said, it's a breeding ground for arguments, but I'm of the opinion that people should wear what they want so long as they personally make a bit of an effort to know the history.