Ponderings of an ancient Scot.

[Fougasse]

I have often thought it odd that Scotland, with all its incentives to increase population, has never opened its doors to those of Scottish ancestry who might like to return.

It already does, if you're a Kiwi and play rugby!

[davidlpope]

I think the necessary tension( at least in my mind) when confronting the idea of creating new non-Scottish tartans is the fact that the kilt is the national/ethnic/cultural attire of Scots and those of Scots-descent. I personally don't understand the appeal of tartans that are aimed at non-Scottish ethnicities (German, Dutch, etc.) that have distinct national/ethnic/cultural traditions in their own right.

I guess that in my mind I give the US a "pass" on this factor, since I don't think that we're old enough, or homogenous enough, to have a uniform, distinct national/ethnic/cultural tradition of our own yet. As such, most kiltwearers I know came to kilts by way of an interest in their Scottish ancestry. In most settings where I see the kilt being worn, it's in the context of a clan association gathering. Given that, I'm don't think that the motivation of most Americans for wearing a clan tartan is any different than that of Scots.


Cordially,

David

[Scotus]

I think the necessary tension( at least in my mind) when confronting the idea of creating new non-Scottish tartans is fact that the kilt is the national/ethnic/cultural attire of Scots and those of Scots-descent. I personally don't understand the appeal of tartans that are aimed at non-Scottish ethnicities (German, Dutch, etc.) that have distinct national/ethnic/cultural traditions in their own right.

I guess that in my mind I give the US a "pass" on this factor, since I don't think that we're old enough, or homogenous enough, to have a uniform, distinct national/ethnic/cultural tradition of our own yet. As such, most kiltwearers I know came to kilts by way of an interest in their Scottish ancestry. In most settings where I see the kilt being worn, it's in the context of a clan association gathering. Given that, I'm don't think that the motivation of most Americans for wearing a clan tartan is any different than that of Scots.

David:

Very, very well said! Your first paragraph is exactly how I feel about it!

America (and Canada and a few other places) are somewhat different because of the large population of Scottish descendants. Anyway, what you've said here is what I was trying to say about my own non-interest in non-Scottish tartans.

Scotus