Got in trouble for being kilted at work

[AN COIGREACH ALBANNACH]

Nighthawk.I like it when you and others get 'long winded'.Something to sink teeth into is what i like to read and i thank you for your time and your meaningfull posts.I guess there must be those who don't like longer posts but i think they are a great way to get to know other members of xmts.

Yes what you wrote does make perfect sence.Although being taken to games when young would hint to me a deliberate culture as well as heritage in your family!
You have a firm and joyfull grasp of who you identify with.Flying the celtic flag,so to speak,as well as the stars and stripes is what you relate to and knowing this makes you seem to me a perfect champion of things new and inovative,such as the alt kilt.Seeing those photos you posted of the celtic fair(am i describing it correctly from memory?) that your family and your freinds are involved in says a lot for how much work you put into keeping the 'old world' history alive too.What a great way to make celtic history come to life for anybody interested!I wish i had the money to fly you and all your historical display freinds to one of our local highland games so that we could enjoy your presentations as well.Huge kudos to you all!

My last post was an encourgement for people who may be wanting to 'join in' on either heritage or cultural themes to please do some homework. So as not to inadvertently offend or make themselves look like numpties either.You are not one of these.

[GreenDragon]

AN COIGREACH ALBANNACH- I'm not going to quote you. You write even longer-winded than I!! I've imposed the skill of an editor on myself...

So- I agree with you. That's why I reserve my traditional 8 yard tank for formal occasions. Or when it's especially cold out! That sucker is toasty! However, I am not Scottish. I am American. I have Scottish heritage. That's why I brought up the difference between culture and heritage. I was raised with both Scottish and Irish influences, from both sides of my family. My dad took me to Highland games when I was a kid, and introduced me to the joys of Celtic music, both from the motherlands and from the diaspora, meaning bluegrass, of course! But I do not identify as either Scots or Irish- I am a New World Celt, and when people as if I'm Scottish/Irish, that's what I tell them- I'm Celtic. Thing I love about being American is that we're such a young country! We can develop a culture of our own that's based in the traditions of our ancestors, and yet still it's own unique culture! I have embraced the modern American kilt for that exact reason! It's perfectly me- one foot firmly in the ancient traditions, and yet still a part of the new world! In my mind, it's a way of embracing heritage, while becoming a part of an emerging culture. And really, it's this philosophy of mine that makes me so animate in making sure that people understand the difference between culture and heritage. It's also why I get so offended when someone tells me that I can't embrace my own culture, which is in fact that of the New World Celt. I feel it important especially to celebrate Tartan Day because it is, to my knowledge, the one and only holiday that is unique to the New World Celts! It is ours! St. Andrew's Day and Burns Night are celebrated, too, and they're tied to the old culture, but Tartan Day originated in Canada, and spread to North America, making it us! And to me, that's hugely important. Keeping the old world traditions keeps us grounded, and evolving our own traditions makes us a unique culture all our own. The native Scots and Irish on this board are my cousins across the ocean. The New World Celts here in this country are my brothers and sisters.

Wow... Does this make any sense at all?

Makes perfect sense to me. My thoughts exactly.

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

Keeping the old world traditions keeps us grounded, and evolving our own traditions makes us a unique culture all our own. The native Scots and Irish on this board are my cousins across the ocean. The New World Celts here in this country are my brothers and sisters.

Very well said. New World Celts. I like it.

[Failed God]

Makes sense to me nighthawk. I like "new world Celts".

[Joshua]

Sorry for the hijack but I thought I'd blurb on Nighthawk's comment...

There is an actual organization called "New World Celts" that originated here in the Tampa Bay but is actively looking for Chapters worldwide. If you read their mission statement you'll see it echos much of what Nighthawk has said. Membership is open to pretty much everyone, seeing as they include all of the 7 Nations as being "Celtic". Good thing since most of my old-world ancestors were Welsh Puritans that moved to lower England, then to Holland, then to Massachuchetts - they probably never regarded themselves as "Celts".

I am loosely affiliated (I have several friends that are members, I've been told I'm an "honorary member" more than once).

http://www.newworldcelts.org/

They won "Clan of the Day" at the Dunedin Highland Games / Celtic Festival this year (last Saturday).

[Nighthawk]

Nighthawk.I like it when you and others get 'long winded'.Something to sink teeth into is what i like to read and i thank you for your time and your meaningfull posts.I guess there must be those who don't like longer posts but i think they are a great way to get to know other members of xmts.

Yes what you wrote does make perfect sence.Although being taken to games when young would hint to me a deliberate culture as well as heritage in your family!
You have a firm and joyfull grasp of who you identify with.Flying the celtic flag,so to speak,as well as the stars and stripes is what you relate to and knowing this makes you seem to me a perfect champion of things new and inovative,such as the alt kilt.Seeing those photos you posted of the celtic fair(am i describing it correctly from memory?) that your family and your freinds are involved in says a lot for how much work you put into keeping the 'old world' history alive too.What a great way to make celtic history come to life for anybody interested!I wish i had the money to fly you and all your historical display freinds to one of our local highland games so that we could enjoy your presentations as well.Huge kudos to you all!

My last post was an encourgement for people who may be wanting to 'join in' on either heritage or cultural themes to please do some homework. So as not to inadvertently offend or make themselves look like numpties either.You are not one of these.

We have indeed put a lot of time and work into not looking like numpties! Glad you're interested.

As to the long winded thing... I agree. I just find myself getting disorganized from time to time! That's why I edit.

Sorry for the hijack but I thought I'd blurb on Nighthawk's comment...

There is an actual organization called "New World Celts" that originated here in the Tampa Bay but is actively looking for Chapters worldwide. If you read their mission statement you'll see it echos much of what Nighthawk has said. Membership is open to pretty much everyone, seeing as they include all of the 7 Nations as being "Celtic". Good thing since most of my old-world ancestors were Welsh Puritans that moved to lower England, then to Holland, then to Massachuchetts - they probably never regarded themselves as "Celts".

I am loosely affiliated (I have several friends that are members, I've been told I'm an "honorary member" more than once).

http://www.newworldcelts.org/

They won "Clan of the Day" at the Dunedin Highland Games / Celtic Festival this year (last Saturday).

I was actually thinking I should post that link! I've been a member of NWC for a couple years now. Thanks for beating me to it!

[Santa Wally]

There is an actual organization called "New World Celts" that originated here in the Tampa Bay but is actively looking for Chapters worldwide. If you read their mission statement you'll see it echos much of what Nighthawk has said. Membership is open to pretty much everyone, seeing as they include all of the 7 Nations as being "Celtic". Good thing since most of my old-world ancestors were Welsh Puritans that moved to lower England, then to Holland, then to Massachuchetts - they probably never regarded themselves as "Celts".

I am loosely affiliated (I have several friends that are members, I've been told I'm an "honorary member" more than once).

http://www.newworldcelts.org/

They won "Clan of the Day" at the Dunedin Highland Games / Celtic Festival this year (last Saturday).

Yes, I was there at Dunedin last Sat when New World Celts won "Clan of the Day"

[Calico]

"New World Celts"

That doesn't mean I have to be a (Boston) Celtics fan, does it?

[Nighthawk]

That doesn't mean I have to be a (Boston) Celtics fan, does it?

Oh HECK no!! Fist off, basketball bores the heck out of me. Second, if ain't a Colorado team (or OSU- GO BUCKS!) I can't get behind it.

[tpa]

Back on the original thread, as an ex-store boss, coming rather late to the discussion, I'm glad this worked out OK for Failed God. For me, I was more than happy if an employee turned up when they were supposed to, worked efficiently, was pleasant to customers and other staff and dressed tastefully. We did supply company tees and sweatshirts, otherwise they could wear what they like as long as their personal hygiene is good. Scary facial tattoos and mohican hair styles would not be recommended for getting a job as they might not be appreciated by many of our older regular customers, but there was never anything in their contract which prevented it.

I never had any complaints when I wore a kilt, as I did on many occasions, though I had to cross my fingers that there would not be a requirement for me to climb a ladder to repair something I could not ask our mainly female employees do do!

I had more problems with staff personal hygiene and lost both a male and a female worker as a result of having to have words with them about it, but come to think of it that was not in the contract either. I'll have to remember that if the situation ever arises again.