Highlanders Discuss Highland Attire

[wildrover]

Yeah brutha, I agree...get a USMC-related tie. Nobody in their right mind would disrespect that...if you're a Marine, that's damn good enough for just about everyone.

Courtesy isn't dead, not by a long shot. You'll be surprised how many people around you--particularly in your own group--who respond to gestures like BoldHighlander described.

BTW, I've never met a girl who didn't like being treated like a girl once in a while...YMMV of course, but all the girls I've known and dated have stated quite firmly that there is a world of difference between equal respect and being treated like a dude all the time .

I've never heard of these hat loops...interesting...

-Sean

[Highland Logan]

Right on topic, I think, Frank. We are discussing how Highlanders Wear Highland Dress in this thread, and perhaps this is just another example of cultural diversity. In Scotland we would never wear the tie of a regiment to whom we do not belong and that is perhaps a bit similar to not wearing the tartan of a clan to which we are non connected. Perhaps neither is true in the US, but would you not agree that the former is true in Canada and not the latter?

I would agree. In Canada, if I spotted someone wearing an Artillery Regimental tie, that had no "right" to wear one, they would get quite a dressing down.

Frank

[Galician]

Can't answer for Orkney, I know the kilt is worn by a few on Harris, I doubt very much the kilt is worn on Shetland as they are very anti Scottish

Really??? What's that all about?

[EagleJCS]

Courtesy isn't dead, not by a long shot. You'll be surprised how many people around you--particularly in your own group--who respond to gestures like BoldHighlander described.

-Sean

Courtesy does appear to be dying a slow death in the U.S. However, I, and several other Scout leaders in this part of the country, are trying to keep it on "life support" until it recovers. I don't care if I get strange looks - many people 'know' what they should be doing, they just choose not to because they don't want to stick out.

We're constantly reminding our boys that "a Scout is courteous" and should follow the practice of removing one's headgear: when inside - except for warehouse/barn structures, when the U.S. flag goes by (flag etiquette in general is part of their education), during church services (even outdoors), etc. One should at least lift one's hat when passing a lady, or at least acknowledge her presence by touching the brim, or nodding at her if your hands are full. We also try to set the example, and provide guidance in other areas of common courtesy as well.


Back to the thread topic, or at least close to it: I'm interested in cromachs. Are they a common thing in Scotland? About how tall should one be? Up to one's waist, shoulder, somewhere in between? Any particular types of wood, or just a good sturdy branch? Any decorations or carving? Do they have to have a horn handle (I see that's a fairly common thing)?

I use a 61 inch hiking staff (it comes up to my chin) on my Scout outings - mainly hiking in the woods - that's carved a little, and has hiking medallions affixed to it to tell my Scouting history. I'd like something a little more appropriate to my Scottish apparel if I'm ever in a situation where I'll need something similar for support or fending off the underbrush - or other things - while wearing my kilt.

[macwilkin]

Really??? What's that all about?

Shetlanders consider themselves to be Scandinavian and not Scottish.

T.

[Galician]

Hmmm, methinks I see a pattern in those flags.

[davidlpope]

Courtesy does appear to be dying a slow death in the U.S.
<<snip>>
We're constantly reminding our boys that "a Scout is courteous" and should follow the practice of removing one's headgear: when inside - except for warehouse/barn structures, when the U.S. flag goes by (flag etiquette in general is part of their education), during church services (even outdoors), etc. One should at least lift one's hat when passing a lady, or at least acknowledge her presence by touching the brim, or nodding at her if your hands are full.

I chalk up the decline in etiquette to an increasingly smaller percentage who have served in the military. There's something about the way that it's pounded into your head that sticks around.

Whenever I see someone wearing headgear indoors, I can almost hear the voice of one particular Marine Gunnery Sergeant decrying that individual's utter "nastyness"! ["Oh, so we wear our covers inside now, do we? That's right, just walk on by and not even acknowledge me, I'm not a Gunnery Sergeant of Marines, or anything, am I?. Come here Devil Dog, I guess we no longer give the appropriate greeting of the day, etc..."]

Cordially,

David

[Brian K]

I chalk up the decline in etiquette to an increasingly smaller percentage who have served in the military. There's something about the way that it's pounded into your head that sticks around.

Whenever I see someone wearing headgear indoors, I can almost hear the voice of one particular Marine Gunnery Sergeant decrying that individual's utter "nastyness"! ["Oh, so we wear our covers inside now, do we? That's right, just walk on by and not even acknowledge me, I'm not a Gunnery Sergeant of Marines, or anything, am I?. Come here Devil Dog, I guess we no longer give the appropriate greeting of the day, etc..."]

Cordially,

David

In my case it was something even more terrifying than a Gunnery Sergeant - my mother who was raised in the South by a father who grew up in Asheville, NC. Woe unto me or any of my 7 siblings if we did not comport ourselves as ladies and gentlemen when out and about in the world. Of course, it was also the only way she could control the lot of us .

I know what you mean by military etiquette, though. I live about half an hour south of Ft. Drum and a lot of soldiers live in our town and shop in the store where I work. I have never been called "sir" so often by so many polite young men before. I've never been wild about being called "sir", despite being 53 and, perhaps, having earned the honorific, but I am impressed by how well-behaved they are in general. Even as a pacifist, I can think of some young men that could do with some boot camp tutelage!

Regards,

Brian

[ghostlight]

A very interesting question you raise Jock Scot. I fear that your query has gone with most other manners these days and that is out the window. I have been told off for holding doors open for others, looked at strangely when I stand for a lady leaving or sitting down at a table, asked why I have taken my hat off when meeting a woman, been laughed at when standing for a woman or older person on public transport. The list could go on.

I was taught these basic courtesies by my family. They were reinforced by military training.

I've also experienced a wide variety of reactions to these courtesies here in the States -- including being physically slapped across the face by a young woman who claimed she felt oppressed by the gesture. I'm still confused by that one.

Fortunately, the positive responses have far outweighed that one incident.

[Jock Scot]

Eagle JCS.

As a rough guide the cromach needs to about at your nipple height. A wee bit higher is OK a wee bit lower is fine. Too short, too high is just plain uncomfortable if the cromach it to be used in the terrain that they are designed for.

My cromach is, near as damn, 50 years old and with a few minor bits of surgery it has been in almost daily use.






In action.