Quote Originally Posted by KD Burke View Post
Two countries separated by a common language? Another point to consider:
The Scots laguage, is much less familiar to Americans than to Scots. A ceilidh sounds to our ears very exotic and foreign. Which we Americans tend to equate to fancy and formal.
That makes a lot of sense. I never thought of it that way. Personally, I use the word to refer to any party that I'm attending- given the fact that the people I party with tend towards the New World Celt persuation. (With the exception of the Denver Vikings guys... ) My coworkers see a get together as an opportunity to get drunk and go to jail, so I avoid their parties. I usually party with my reenacment group, the Renaissance Scots, so our parties always have a Scottish flare to them. (Please note that I referred to them as having a scottish flare and not as actually being Scottish.) These parties are never formal, or even semiformal. There have been the occasions where clothing itself has become optional... Don't ask. Or... well... I guess you can. If you want to.