Maybe I'm wrong, maybe the Kilt isn't 'just clothes'.

[Jock Scot]

I think David has an excellent point here, though I'd add that the genealogy buffing often extends to visiting Scotland, joining Clan Associations. It is a process of re-connecting to a heritage lost. There are all levels of proficiency in that effort, as is to be expected. I think Americans would like to feel more welcomed (and guided) in these tentative attempts at reconnecting, and are puzzled when their efforts are rebuffed or made fun of.

Jock, I've heard you say that Highlanders have a special relation to the kilt (or something like that). Could you expound on this a bit more perhaps? Why do you think they are protective of that and discouraging of those with ancestral connections but no longer living in Scotland?

After all, the MacBean Chief (James McBain) lives in Arizona. The Clan Chattan Chief lives in Zimbabwe (or similar place). The MacKintosh of MacKintosh lives in Singapore. Should they not dress the part on occasion either?

Alright this is a personal view and I do think that you chaps firstly do not need to over-react with the undoubtedly true stories and views posted here on this thread and secondly, I think many Scots and certainly those from outwith Scotland forget or are unaware that the kilt is not Scottish attire, it is first and foremost HIGHLAND SCOTS ATTIRE. Until very recently---say the last 30/40 years the kilt was loudly and scathingly ridiculed by the lowland Scots. Now I really do not want to get into a Highland/Lowland Scot argument, but their histories, loyalties, thought characteristics, particularly in attitude, are noticeably different.

Generally speaking the lowland Scot is not backwards at coming forward when voicing an opinion on anything. And the Highlanders are never ceased to be amazed just how "expert" the lowlanders have become on kilt matters in such a short space of time! Again generally speaking, the lowland Scot has a considerably "shorter fuse" than a Highlander.

The Highlander, is rather less "in your face", and generally has "a far longer fuse" but woe betide any one who riles either variety! The Highlander keeps his council and will keep his opinions very much to himself and is very much a "gentleman" to strangers.I think on the whole a Highlander will view a visiting kilt wearer with silent and gentle respect and not a little lack of understanding, tinged with a touch of gentle amusement.

What the Scots in general, I think, find difficult to understand is this need for non Scots to delve into roots, clan histories, Scottish history, kilt attire in the minute detail that some/many of the non Scots seem to need to do and it is quite true that there are many on this website that know far more detail on "things Scottish" than we do. However I do know for a fact that a two hour lecture containing rather tenuous and dubious facts of a person's ancestry to justify the ten tartans that "he" is "entitled" to wear, but who is plainly not Scottish is oh so boring to me and I think most Scots. Sorry, but it happens time and time again.

Its not surprising really, the Scots are living it, one way or another, every day, 24 hours a day and being surrounded in tartan,whisky, dubious tourist historical facts, endless coaches, cameras pointing in all directions they end up with a distinctly jaundiced view of it all.

Does that help our(Scots) general understanding of what a visitor is requiring? No, sadly, it does not. Is it a personal thing that the Scots have against visitors? No absolutely not!

On the other hand, the potential visitor has read the tourist hype, seen the kilted pictures, learned the potted history of their roots, assumed that those awful MacIan pictures are fact, so the end result is that our starry eyed visitor leaps off the plane full of enthusiasm only to be met with Scotsmen and women who are getting on with living and rarely even think about kilts etc----------except on special occasions.

I hope this helps. I am away for a few days, so bare with me if I don't reply.

[Dale Seago]

Very, VERY well done explanation!

[MacBean]

Ah, yes, that certainly does help us understand Jock; and I'm very glad for this excellent post. Especially it helps me, as I spent many years growing up in Southern England and London, and found American tourists, even 50-odd years ago, irritating (especially as I knew I was American, though I doubt anyone else did). They were loud, blithely asked personal questions of strangers, oh my!

I will say that a simple, "my ancestors were from this area", did not seem to repel natives in Scotland or Ireland in visits I and my wife have made. More than that is kind of boring.

Having changed countries about five times in my life and having bi-national children, I've found that my first priority is shedding the last culture and adopting the new; fitting in. Because of this, I advise foreign immigrants to keep celebrating their native holidays, and for the mother to speak her native tongue to children.

All this said, I've often wondered what hangs on in temperament (genetic or learned) through the generations. I see traits in my son, that I and my father before me share. I've seen those of German ancestry here who value precision of speech to a degree that those of Latin descent might find dismaying. As for Highland-Lowland, what can I say? I remember Scottish boys in my school in Sussex who wore Highland Dress to church on Sundays (1960). I think we all admired them for it; I never heard any ridicule (but then there was really no ridicule at all in that school).

[kilted scholar]

On the other hand, the potential visitor ... leaps off the plane full of enthusiasm only to be met with Scotsmen and women who are getting on with living and rarely even think about kilts etc----------except on special occasions.

This is very correct except that we have seen some good pictures of Jock, kilted on a walk with his wife, and again on a fishing trip, which would not usually be classed as "special occasions" by most people. So, supposing that Jock is a good representative of what he describes here - and there is no reason at all to doubt it - kilts are worn for more than weddings, fancy dinners where people wear black or white ties, but also in relaxed circumstances, in a walk in the country and the like.

[Jock Scot]

This is very correct except that we have seen some good pictures of Jock, kilted on a walk with his wife, and again on a fishing trip, which would not usually be classed as "special occasions" by most people. So, supposing that Jock is a good representative of what he describes here - and there is no reason at all to doubt it - kilts are worn for more than weddings, fancy dinners where people wear black or white ties, but also in relaxed circumstances, in a walk in the country and the like.

Just before I wiz out of the door!

I think that you should view my kilted antics as an exception rather than the rule.

[Burly Brute]

I think this thread has officially derailed and I don't know that this is helping the O.P.'s lament! lol

[Mike_Oettle]

This thread has had an extraordinary following over a short time. I am sure I have not read each and every post (which I prefer to do before responding).
But it has been good to see the way the topic has been dealt with by various members of the forum, despite the outspokenness of some of the opinions aired.
I would not presume to dictate to any Scot what he ought to wear and when. But by the same token I find it odd that some Scots might feel justified in telling non-Scots that they may not wear the kilt.
I certainly do not pretend to be a Scot when I wear a kilt.
When I was a part-time soldier, I wore a South African Army uniform that happened to incorporate a kilt and tammie.
And now that I own a kilt, I wear it with a tammie, sporran, kilt hose and flashes – not because I want to delude anyone into believing I am a Scot, but because I feel this to be the proper way to wear the kilt (and there are enough examples of this on X Marks).
I also want to avoid being accused of cross-dressing (which might occur were I to wear a kilt that deviates markedly from the Scottish tradition).
The tartan I wear in kilt form was designed by a South African and was woven in Cape Town. My kilt was made by an Afrikaans-speaker from Gauteng.
I hope to be able to wear other South African tartans, too.
And if at some stage I have the good fortune to wear my ancestral tartan, I would do so with pride. It will not make me a Scot, and since the tartan belongs to a Lowland family, it will certainly not make me a Highlander.
Finally, if I had the good fortune to visit Britain, I would wear my kilt (or kilts) there, whatever the locals had to say about it. That goes for the Highlands, the Lowlands, England and Wales.
And I would seek out friends like Jock Scot, John (English Bloke), Trefor (McClef) and others I have met here. They are marvellous fellows.
Regards,
Mike

[English Bloke]

I think this thread has officially derailed and I don't know that this is helping the O.P.'s lament! lol

Fret not Burly. I'll get over it.

...And I would seek out friends like Jock Scot, John (English Bloke), Trefor (McClef) and others I have met here. They are marvellous fellows.

Cheers Mike. Kind words. I don't pretend to be Scottish either, Never have, never will... same as if I wear jeans I'm not pretending to be American or if I wear a suit I'm not pretending to be a City Gent.

I fully understand what Jock is telling us and he's right, most Scots are baffled by anyone who is non-scots wanting to wear the Kilt. Most aren't rude about it but they are baffled all the same.

I'd like to meet Jock too. I'm sure we'd have considerably more to talk about than just Kilts. And the prospect of a sharing a dram is always appealing.

[Bugbear]

All I know is I keep making horrible mistakes on the forum by not fully understanding the unspoken rules and ways of Scottish culture. They're unspoken! No one ever talks about them... and you don't know you've broken a rule until no one talks to you...

[Father Bill]

All I know is I keep making horrible mistakes on the forum by not fully understanding the unspoken rules and ways of Scottish culture. They're unspoken! No one ever talks about them... and you don't know you've broken a rule until no one talks to you...

Oh, I can empathize with you there, Bug! Most cultures have those. I've seen it in many places, and most emphatically here in Churchland! Hang tough; the reason they don't tell you the rules is that they assume that everyone knows them. Just try asking a question in a small town or rural area anywhere in the world. They know their norms and are stunned that you don't - you... you... you COMEFROMAWAY you!

(For all those who are offended, please note the wink smiley.)