Mall question: Are You Scottish?

[mkmound]

. . .
While taking one of my daily walks in the park I got invited to a company picnic because I was wearing a Carmel Utilikilt Workman's. I no longer work, and did not even work for the company that was having the picnic. It all started because of the kilt not being a tartan, and it having pockets. Again - it was associated with Scotland. Great conversation, great food, and I could have had all the beer I wanted to drink (had to settle for iced tea - my medications and alcohol don't like each other). When I had to leave, I was sent on my way with a drink container full of iced tea, and the words "the Scots and Irish got it right" even though they knew by then that my kilt was American made - nothing wrong with that - and thank goodness for that inch or so of float in the Utilikilt waist band - I needed it.

Darrell

Darrell, that's a great story! Thanks for sharing it with us!

[Raphael]

I have been asked tha question a few times and I always told them that I am. You should see the look on their faces!!!

[Sindarius]

Yeah, I doubt I would have ever considered buying a kilt if not for my Scottish ancestry. I love my kilt and my heritage. I myself hope they dont ever become all to popular, or just another fad. If every other guy in town wore a kilt would this group be here? Or for those of us with Scottish ancestry, wear our kilts and say, "This is my heritage, I wear it proudly" if someone asks about it.

I could not have said it better myself. I'm not trying to make a fashion statement and while I certainly enjoy the freedom of the kilt, it is not the reason I wear it. For me it all comes down to heritage.

[Hamish]

I very much doubt if I have been asked, "Are you Scottish?" more than a dozen times in all my 56 years of kilt wearing! Most of those occasions will have been whilst I was 'on show' doing my stewarding work for The National Trust at Petworth House in the past five years. One is somewhat a target in situations like that, where visitors are coming up to ask questions about the house and its contents anyway. Any questions about the kilt, and they are very few really, are usually thrown in as little extras before the questioner goes on his or her way.

I am still convinced that this has a lot to do with the 'British reserve', for which we are known. As a nation, we are shy of asking such direct questions of strangers. Similarly, compliments are not given as freely as they appear to be in the USA and, even when they are, more often than not, they are remarks made in passing so that one has to turn around to offer thanks!

Strange as it may seem (!), I am a victim of this myself. At the Harpenden Highland Gathering last month, I noticed a chap wearing a very smart-looking navy kilt with the Saltire emblazoned across the front apron - it was the kilt itself that looked so good. Several times during the day I was going to ask him where he bought the kilt but felt too embarrassed to do so. Eventually, I did summon up the courage to approach him to compliment him on his fine kilt, but it took me a while to prepare myself.

Do any of my United Kingdom brethren have similar opinions - or problems?

[way2fractious]

... he was curious enough to start a conversation... If you like a kilt, wear one...

These are my #2 reason and #1 reason for wearing kilts, most often casual, non-traditional because of the climate here.

A kilt being worn in public offers many more people more conversation openers than anything else I've seen. The wide variety of questions offers the wearer a wide variety of responses. Most of the possible responses are a testimonial to the (comfort/heritage/utility/economy/etc) of the kilt. Ain't it great?

Kilt on! Educate on!

[Andrewson]

I very much doubt if I have been asked, "Are you Scottish?" more than a dozen times in all my 56 years of kilt wearing! ....

I am still convinced that this has a lot to do with the 'British reserve', for which we are known. As a nation, we are shy of asking such direct questions of strangers. Similarly, compliments are not given as freely as they appear to be in the USA and, even when they are, more often than not, they are remarks made in passing so that one has to turn around to offer thanks!
...

Do any of my United Kingdom brethren have similar opinions - or problems?

Well I seem to be asked if I'm Scottish quite frequently when kilted. I can answer quite truthfully that I am Scottish born and bred but I always add that you don't have to be Scottish to wear a kilt. And even though I really want to transmit the message that anyone can enjoy the comfort of the kilt, I get the impression that most people don't really believe me. They quiz me about my clan and when, as is sometimes the case, I am not wearing one of my clan tartans they seem quite shocked. The remnants of my Scottish accent are enough to convince them that I really am Scottish yet here I am "breaking the rules" and inviting them to join me in the felony! It doesn't square with their preconceptions.

As to "British reserve", Hamish, I think it would be more accurate to say "English reserve". One of the first things I noticed on coming to live in England was that the natives were quite a lot more reserved about expressing opinions to total strangers in the street (much less so in the pub) than I had been used to in Scotland, especially in Glasgow. Even today my immediate family - all born in England - get embarrassed when I let my curiosity get the better of me and I question total strangers or make comments (including compliments) to them. I rather suspect that my Welsh and Irish compatriots might feel the same. Do the other Scots here - and the Welsh and Irish - feel the same as I do?

[Aramp]

...most of the possible responses are a testimonial to the (comfort/heritage/utility/economy/etc) of the kilt. Ain't it great?

Kilt on! Educate on!

I don't think economy fits in so well. :rolleyes:

[JackK]

A while back I wore my tan UK to a community theater in Holland, MI - a very conservative town. At intermission I was asked the 'are you Scottish' question by a very nice elderly (getting to the point in life that I better not say old any more) lady, I told her about the same thing that you did, it being a Utilikilt from Seattle. She told friends across the theater very loadly - ' no he's not, he's from Seattle' to which one of the others said 'that explains it'. What ever that means. I thought the lady I was with was going to blow her drink she was laughing so hard, and she hated my kilts.

Jack

[corbinj]

I get the scottish question once or twice a week. I think it is because we have such large highland games around here (denver). I myself am not Scottish, so I respond "no I am not Scotch, I'm a scandinavian, My people put the red hair in the scots, and we left our genes there too.." Seriously though, tartans are very Scot, the kilt however celebrates variants all over the world. It has just been too many generations in pants to remember. I think there is a kilt rebellion going on. I fight it out with my wife alot. freedom is not free! kilt on!

[slohairt]

I get this question frequently, though just as often asked if I am Irish; which I am (by birth, ancestry, and citizenship). I was born in Co. Donegal and my family moved to Canada when I was four. However, my paternal grandmother is a Graham from Scotland so I am of 1/4 quarter Scottish descent. Incidentally, the Graham of Montrose tartan is my all-time favourite of the tartans I am "entitled" to wear!
My wife wears tartan kilted skirts I have made her though these are typically Welsh tartans as she is half-Welsh and half-Mik'Maq (Native Canadian). People sometimes ask her if she's Scottish as well.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Liosliath Ó hAirt