Wearing your kilt to other cultural events

[Martin S]

I had been thinking recently of this very question -- but in a different way; nothing to do with "respect" for other people's cultures etc.
I'd heard there was some country & western dancing club here and thought of going along for some exercise.
What would they think of the kilt?
Since I would be a beginner, yet already know how to dance, would they think I was trying to show off?
Since I run a Scottish dancing club, would they think I was there only to try and kidnap their members?
I have heard that some American dancers are very strict about costume (long sleeves & jeans for men, wide frilly skirts for the girls...), so would I be simply breaking the rules by turning up in my everyday clothes?

Martin

[MACKAY]

Look at it this way - for Octoberfest you can get a German American Heritage kilt from Rocky, ....

I wore just that (my USAK German American Tartan) at a German American Sports Club event and received nothing but great comments and lively dialog with a gentleman in Laderhosen regarding displaying and preserving ones cultural roots.

Brian

[canawler]

Question:
Would it be disrespectful to wear your kilt to these events? (Before you answer, consider how you would feel if a troupe of lederhosen-clad revelers showed up at a Highland event).

I ran into a similar situation to this at the Potomac Celtic Festival this year. A man was walking around in a traditional Dutch outfit (sorry, I don't know the name of the clothing) complete with the large wooden shoes. I didn't talk to him but I did overhear several conversations. I'm not sure exactly what country he was from but I believe he was showing off his culture as everyone else was showing off theirs. I wasn't offended at all and I didn't notice any negative reactions. It certainly was a conversation starter.

[davedove]

I think the difference is if you are wearing the kilt as a costume or just another article of clothing. If you are all done up with ALL the accessories, you would probably get a few looks. But, if you were wearing the kilt as part of your normal clothes, it would be different (okay, you might still get a few looks) I don't think it is being disrepectful though. After all, it's just clothes.

Wear one of the German oriented tartans to show honor to the occasion.

[Yaish]

Showing up in a kilt to a German fest is no worse than showing up to a Scottish fest in pants. If you were a participant, and had some role to play in the festivities then you might want to dress the correct part, but as a visitor?

Wear YOUR normal clothes. If a kilt is part of that, so be it.

[MysticMead]

kilts at other cultural events... sure why not... I have..and will wear them again.. Oktoberfest kilted is a LOT of fun... and from my experience kilted or not... no one there really cares if you are dressed differently.. as long as you are there to have fun

[GMan]

Just my opinion, I see no disrespect at all, as long as you are confident and well mannered, it is not an issue. Just remember most people are like it yet a few are always going to be offended no matter what.

[Rusty]

Just my two cents worth, Last year I went kilted to a ethnic festival here in town. The largest ethnic group in this area and the state for that matter is German, so the organizers had put an emphasis on the German, German's from Russia and German Hungarian's. I was asked many questions about the kilt, Scotland, and the British Isles in general I even told a few in attendance about the "German Tartan." Needless to say I had a great time. The chairman of the cultural organization that put the event together asked me if I would be willing to set up a booth on Scotland and Ireland at this years event.

[Graywolf]

And we know it was not originally the Chicken Dance, but the Duck Dance, right?

[Kiltman]

Well that is an interesting question, as someone who wears a kilt on a daily basis, as clothing and not a costume, I would not, and do not have a problem wearing my kilt anywhere that I go. Does it bother some people, yes, do their prejudges effect me, if I allow them to. I have got to the point in my life where I can dress myself, and I am also grown up enough to not let what others wear bother me. I wish others would see it that way.

No matter where I go people of other cultures have had positive things to say about my kilt wearing with some of them it is because they are proud to wear the "costume" of their heritage and can therefore relate.

Today as I was going into the mall I heard over my shoulder in a Jamaican accent "Hello Mr. Stewart." So I said back "How did you know?" I stopped we talked for a bit and I told him that while I am not a Stewart my mother is and while this is not the Stewart tartan I do have a Stewart tartan at home, we talked about the importance of heritage and we both learned something it was all in all an enjoyable exchange, but only because we both went into it with open minds.

Amen! I hope that's not too religious?