One for the native Scots

[Phil]

Thanks guys you guys pretty much confirmed my thoughts on the matter. I think I'll forgo the kilt on this one and go with the flow.

I think you are making the right decision. On my few kilt-wearing forays into England I have noticed a (slightly) adverse reaction from some individuals which I thought it best to ignore. Whether this was just harmless banter or something more sinister I do not know but as the only kilted guest this is something you should be aware of. I do not wish to stray into anything political but there is a marked anti-Scottish undercurrent evident in the English press at the moment, notably in newspaper comments about anything Scottish.

[Phil]

I have experienced this abroad, both on cruises and land-based holidays over the last few years. Scottish people are referred to by English travellers as "sweatys" something I actually heard in Madeira from a repreentative there. It actually means sweaty socks - rhyming slang for Jocks - and I was deeply upset to hear this from this particular individual who was just trying to make a living there.
A couple from Gibraltar thought it suitable to refer to Scots as "subsidy junkies" and by implication. obviously, us! Happily we spent the rest of the cruise without them.
I do hope that no-one on this site gets the type of imperial individuals that we have suffered but, sadly they are all to prevalent, even nowadays.

[tpa]

I certainly would not give up without consulting the bride. If she lived in Glasgow she will probably encourage you to wear your kilt. It is very unusual to have black/white tie weddings for the guests in the UK. The groom and best man may be dressed up, (I wore a Montrose for my wedding as did my best man), but tweed Argyll and kilt is perfectly acceptable for guest wear. I have attended a number of weddings in both Scotland and England in tweed Argyll and kilt and have only had beneficial comments. Although I am Scottish, I live in England, wear a kilt most days, no nasty comments and my accent, to most people, does not give away my Scots heritage.

It is quite probable that as an American wearing a kilt, you will find the English a lot less critical than some Scots. Your wife likes it - go for it.

[English Bloke]

I'd wear a kilt to a wedding in England. Have done, had no bother. Bride and Groom asked me to and were both more than made up when I did. Others who heard I was going to, took it as an opportunity to drag their Kilts out their closets as well so there were four on the day. All in all, a grand do!


Three Englishmen, one Scot...

Phil. I'm sorry you've met with the truculent element among us South of the border British. It is reprehensible to say the least. Being an Englishman, I've never received anything but kind words of fond endearment from the Scots.

[tpa]

Phil, sounds like you need to change your travel company.

[Phil]

Phil, sounds like you need to change your travel company.

I'm sorry if I've given the impression that such attitudes are rife but it does happen. We have made good friends on holiday, all of them English, but they are probably not "Telegraph" or "Daily Mail" readers. And we can give as good as we get. The couple on the cruise believed us in Tenerife when we showed them photos of the flag http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Tenerife there and that it was being flown especially for us!

[English Bloke]

...The couple on the cruise believed us in Tenerife when we showed them photos of the flag there and that it was being flown especially for us!
...

Hehehehehe!! Good shot Sir!! I'd have loved to have seen that exchange. And I concur with your Daily Mail /Telegraph reader analogy. Those papers are best avoided. Bigotted and sensationalist rags the pair of 'em.

[tpa]

Hehehehehe!! Good shot Sir!! I'd have loved to have seen that exchange. And I concur with your Daily Mail /Telegraph reader analogy. Those papers are best avoided. Bigoted and sensationalist rags the pair of 'em.

Don't know what you have got against the Mail and the Telegraph, they are as useful as any other paper when you are caught short in the loo. I think bigoted and sensationalist are adjectives which apply to almost all news papers; I have not bought one for some years.

[Calgacus]

When I was somewhat younger I read the Sunday Post, but only the 'Oor Wullie' page.

oor-wullie.jpg

Once I was old enough to form my own opinions I dispensed with newspapers entirely.

[Phil]

Don't know what you have got against the Mail and the Telegraph, they are as useful as any other paper when you are caught short in the loo. I think bigoted and sensationalist are adjectives which apply to almost all news papers; I have not bought one for some years.

Somebody once told me that Mail readers fervently wish Britain still had an Empire whereas Telegraph readers think we still have one. The comments following any Scotland-related article have to be read to be believed.