kilts in Scotland

[Ozman1944]

Good; then they can't complain when others take up what they have tossed aside.

I remember St Francis of Assisi once predicted in the thirteenth cent. ; " the evil day will eventually come when priests & nuns will cast aside their Habit with contempt and dress as the Worldling..but then the Worlding will take up the Habit and hold it in reverence until the darkness passes".
Maybe the same could apply to the Kilt? (Prediction of "St." William Wallace???)

[Galician]

Good; then they can't complain when others take up what they have tossed aside. I remember St Francis of Assisi once predicted in the thirteenth cent. ; " the evil day will eventually come when priests & nuns will cast aside their Habit with contempt and dress as the Worldling..but then the Worlding will take up the Habit and hold it in reverence until the darkness passes". Maybe the same could apply to the Kilt? (Prediction of "St." William Wallace???)

I agree with that sentiment, Your Excellency!

I wonder, though, when you heard St. Francis say that.

[McFarkus]

Good; then they can't complain when others take up what they have tossed aside.

The ones who don't wear kilts regularly are probably exactly the ones who would object.

[macwilkin]

Good; then they can't complain when others take up what they have tossed aside.

I remember St Francis of Assisi once predicted in the thirteenth cent. ; " the evil day will eventually come when priests & nuns will cast aside their Habit with contempt and dress as the Worldling..but then the Worlding will take up the Habit and hold it in reverence until the darkness passes".
Maybe the same could apply to the Kilt? (Prediction of "St." William Wallace???)

The ones who don't wear kilts regularly are probably exactly the ones who would object.

So then all of us who choose not to wear our kilts everyday are "tossing aside" the kilt?

Gents, different horses for courses. If the majority of Scots choose not to wear their kilts everyday, but save them for "special occasions", then that's their right to do so. I generally follow their example.

Some folks choose to wear their kilts everyday -- I'm very supportive of that choice. But not choosing to wear a kilt everyday does not make you less of a kiltie. This attitude goes against the very arguement that some make for a larger acceptance of kilt-wearing by the general public.

Sorry for being on the this morning.

T.

[CactusJack]

So then all of us who choose not to wear our kilts everyday are "tossing aside" the kilt?

Gents, different horses for courses. If the majority of Scots choose not to wear their kilts everyday, but save them for "special occasions", then that's their right to do so. I generally follow their example.

Some folks choose to wear their kilts everyday -- I'm very supportive of that choice. But not choosing to wear a kilt everyday does not make you less of a kiltie. This attitude goes against the very arguement that some make for a larger acceptance of kilt-wearing by the general public.

Sorry for being on the this morning.

T.

Todd,
What you said made me stop and think for a moment and I have to say that you are quite right, So I personally do not think that you were on a soapbox here but just stating what you feel and being one who does not wear a kilt daily I feel better about it thanks to you.

[Jock Scot]

So then all of us who choose not to wear our kilts everyday are "tossing aside" the kilt?

Gents, different horses for courses. If the majority of Scots choose not to wear their kilts everyday, but save them for "special occasions", then that's their right to do so. I generally follow their example.

Some folks choose to wear their kilts everyday -- I'm very supportive of that choice. But not choosing to wear a kilt everyday does not make you less of a kiltie. This attitude goes against the very arguement that some make for a larger acceptance of kilt-wearing by the general public.

Sorry for being on the this morning.

T.

I thankyou for that observation.

[Dhuni]

I've not been to Scotland for several years but from here it seems there is a bit of a revival happening.
As a side note;
Several of us Frasers went over together nearly 20 years ago and on our trip to Culloden we were the only kilties around for the rank and file tourists to photograph.

[Chef]

Good; then they can't complain when others take up what they have tossed aside.

I remember St Francis of Assisi once predicted in the thirteenth cent. ; " the evil day will eventually come when priests & nuns will cast aside their Habit with contempt and dress as the Worldling..but then the Worlding will take up the Habit and hold it in reverence until the darkness passes".
Maybe the same could apply to the Kilt? (Prediction of "St." William Wallace???)

<>

Sorry Stan, I've got to call you on that, and as a Scot, personally I find it rather insulting. The fact that kilts are not common for day to day wear does not mean that Scotland is tossing it aside.

Let's look at what we are dealing with, a proper modern kilt is an expensive proposition it always has been. Until fairly recently factory kilts were not available (many don't think they are kilts anyway but that is a different argument). Given the economy of Scotland over the century and the fact that the majority of Scots were common working folk is it any wonder that such a garment would be kept for special occasions. Should they have worn them into the coal pits or the shipyards. Would it have made sense to milk the cows in them?

You also had 10 years of rationing in the UK, during and after the War, which included clothing. Wool was rationed because of the need for uniforms. But even today, why would a rational frugal working Scot get dressed in an expensive kilt to go to work? To please some tourist's idea of a Scotsman?

Of course there are some Scots who wear the kilt regularly and a few who are kilted primarily but lets face it as much as we love kilts they are NOT the most practical garment for a lot of work. If they were women wouldn't wear pants.

When I think about this what amazes me is not that so few Scots wear the kilt regularly, but how many feel that it is an important part of life's special occasions in Scotland or to show your national pride. My Grandfathers owned kilts as did many of their peers, but they worked in coal mines and saved a pretty penny to get them. That's not tossing aside, that's holding on with great reverence an respect. It would have been to easy for the kilt to disappear from Scotland during difficult times but it didn't.

So maybe when you hear complaints from Scots who think it's wrong for someone who isn't Scottish to wear the kilt you will understand where they come from. For you it's a piece of clothing but for many Scots (whether they wear it regularly or not) the kilt symbolises much more.

</>

[sharpdressedscot]

<>

Sorry Stan, I've got to call you on that, and as a Scot, personally I find it rather insulting. The fact that kilts are not common for day to day wear does not mean that Scotland is tossing it aside.

Let's look at what we are dealing with, a proper modern kilt is an expensive proposition it always has been. Until fairly recently factory kilts were not available (many don't think they are kilts anyway but that is a different argument). Given the economy of Scotland over the century and the fact that the majority of Scots were common working folk is it any wonder that such a garment would be kept for special occasions. Should they have worn them into the coal pits or the shipyards. Would it have made sense to milk the cows in them?

You also had 10 years of rationing in the UK, during and after the War, which included clothing. Wool was rationed because of the need for uniforms. But even today, why would a rational frugal working Scot get dressed in an expensive kilt to go to work? To please some tourist's idea of a Scotsman?

Of course there are some Scots who wear the kilt regularly and a few who are kilted primarily but lets face it as much as we love kilts they are NOT the most practical garment for a lot of work. If they were women wouldn't wear pants.

When I think about this what amazes me is not that so few Scots wear the kilt regularly, but how many feel that it is an important part of life's special occasions in Scotland or to show your national pride. My Grandfathers owned kilts as did many of their peers, but they worked in coal mines and saved a pretty penny to get them. That's not tossing aside, that's holding on with great reverence an respect. It would have been to easy for the kilt to disappear from Scotland during difficult times but it didn't.

So maybe when you hear complaints from Scots who think it's wrong for someone who isn't Scottish to wear the kilt you will understand where they come from. For you it's a piece of clothing but for many Scots (whether they wear it regularly or not) the kilt symbolises much more.

</>

I agree on most of your post, and I understand it's a symbol of pride and heritage, but technically it is a garment. but I guess it holds more meaning to the people that hold the heritage, yet it may mean very much to the people that aren't even Scottish. I think everyone is Scottish at heart.

[Abax]

Sorry Stan, I've got to call you on that, and as a Scot, personally I find it rather insulting. The fact that kilts are not common for day to day wear does not mean that Scotland is tossing it aside.

It seems unlikely that Stan was trying to personally insult you. It seems much more likely that when Stan says "they" in . . .

Good; then they can't complain when others take up what they have tossed aside.

. . . he's referring to obviously misinformed people who cast themselves as experts (perhaps even cloaked in some form of Nationalism) and criticize someone who - unlike them - has made an effort to acquire and proudly wear a kilt.

I can only hope that one of noble the people you describe who suffered through wool rationing or who holds the kilt in great respect would not give cause for Stan to describe them as "complaining." I'd expect you too - like most of us who have worn kilts in public - have run into experts on kilts and all things Scottish who obviously are not.

If you'd rather that we all reserve the kilt for special occasions because that's your preferred custom, then you are - of course - welcome to hold that preference. But it is hardly the basis to take offense or express your indignation when someone else prefers to adapt the kilt to a broader purpose. With great respect for what's happened in the past, I don't live there anymore.

Whether you're a Scot or not, I'm afraid I have to give a little less credence to the words of people who appear go out of their way to misconstrue the words of others and act insulted as a form of one-upmanship. Instead of acting indignant, consider asking the poster a question about what they meant and seek to understand their viewpoint without the histrionics.

Abax