Kilts and visiting churches in Europe

[Valencian Kilted]

My experience on Spain is that you will not have problems with shorts as much as we consider the places you go to see. In Barcelona, for example, you will not have any problem to visit Gaudí's Sagrada Familia in shorts, and even on ur kilt. My perception is that you could only have problems on visiting cathedrals depending on the open mind of the local clergy. Maybe in Barcelona they're more openminded than in Burgos or in Toledo, and even in Santiago, but I don't think that u'll have any problem at all. Regarding to the style, I won't recommand a full traditional dressing. Maybe a tartan kilt with a casual look and a discrete colours combination (matching with the kilt, and maybe with dark colours) would be ok. If you don't seem to wear a red light over ur clothes, everything should go ok. It's all based on respect. I don't agree with their point of view, but I have to remember my university years, when going to speech exams in shorts was (and it's still) forbidden, I thought that that policy was somewhat absurd in a country where just yesterday we were at 40ºC, but later I understood that teachers asked for some respect from us, and that was a way to show that respect... Would I show more respect at university rules to the ones of the house of God?... Simply, if they have that rule it will be written at the door... and even on that cases nobody will shout to you, as they will avoid scandal... I'm sure that in case you find one of those extra-puritan priests, he will suggest to you quite kindly :rolleyes:

Regarding Vatican rules about clothing, it's evident that it's a special place... as there's the center of our church and also the most orthodox or strict in terms of formalism. The fact that official languages include latin says much a lot about that, isn't it?

If you come here, wear ur kilt with pride, tartan if it's possible, and with discretion...that's all you must follow, in my opinion...

¡Salud!

T O N O

[TechBear]

Thanks, Valencian Kilted.

I doubt I would want to wear something traditional; Spain in August, even on the coast, doesn't seem a good place and time to be wearing knee socks and wool

Most likely, I will be dressed similar to what I've been wearing on the weekends: Utilikilt, plain button-down short sleeved shirt, travel hat (this one, in fact), day-pack filled with various necessities, hiking socks and good walking shoes. Pretty respectable and unremarkable, except for the kilt :rolleyes: Previous trips to Europe were spent dressed like that, only in chinos rather than kilt. I try hard not to be the typically sloppy and obnoxious American tourist; call it my small contribution to international relations.

I didn't think I would have any trouble with the kilt, but it is nice to have something I can use to shut up that nagging voice at the back of my head telling me I will miss out if I'm not just like everyone else.

[James]

I've worn the kilt in many European countries-and visited churches etc whilst so dressed, without any problems.

However always in a regular kilt, and it is possible that there might be a different attitude in respect of such a faux kilt as the Utilikilt.

James

[Valencian Kilted]

doesn't seem a good place and time to be wearing knee socks and wool
Most likely, I will be dressed similar to what I've been wearing on the weekends: Utilikilt, plain button-down short sleeved shirt, travel hat (this one, in fact), day-pack filled with various necessities, hiking socks and good walking shoes. Pretty respectable and unremarkable, except for the kilt :rolleyes:

You don't need to wear a wool tank to wear a tartan , as a 4 or 5 yards poly tartan kilt would be ok and not really expensive. Spain is not a kilting place. I just know other two people kilted. One is in Madrid and the other is in Galicia. So, for most of spaniards a kilt is in all cases a tartan kilt, if not... it's a skirt. Wearing kilt hose to the knee would be a sillyness, but you can wear ur hiking socks rolled down of ur boots and it will be ok. Regarding the shirt, just avoid the shiny coloured styles (as hawaïan flowered shirts, for example) and about the hat, whatever you wear you will have to take it out into church, as it's a lack of respect to get in with your head covered. It's maybe a simbolism, but it means somewhat that you're avoiding the grace of God to get into you ;)

Again.... wear it with the same respect that you would wish to receive!

¡Salud!

T O N O

[Prester John]

An interesting thread.

I'm always interested to see that men in churches are often asked to dress properly, and remove their hats, while women almost never are...and God forbid you should ask them to observe the apostolic tradition of covering their heads!

I encountered this at a cathedral in the midwest once. There was a sign in front which asked gentlemen to remove their hats before entering. No sign asking ladies to cover their heads, though. All the tour guides, also women, were wearing pants.

It's an awfully strange world!

[auld argonian]

Gee, PJ...it was always accepted that gentlemen should remove their hats when entering a house of worship...it's a drag that they have to put up a sign to point that out. The rule in most places - as I remember it from my youth - was that guys: hats off, women: cover the head (scarf, mantilla, chapel veil, etc.). I remember that in the sixties the slide began...they were constantly telling women that "slacks" were not acceptable attire for church...

Best

AA

[Freelander Sporrano]

This is an interesting thread guys...Don't let it wander too far from Visting european churches