Special Days????

[Downunder Kilt]

Father Bill, I can understand that you feel that you may standout wearing a kilt and as you said you already feel that you standout because of the collar you wear. It's possible you sense this standout feeling because wearing of the kilt everday is not natural to you. I think a lot of people you may meet in your profession, want to see a priest and whether you are wearing a kilt or whatever clothes, they will see them at first, maybe note it, then get onto the business at hand. My theory is if you feel comfortable in what your wearing, others will too.

[Failed God]

I understand where you are coming from since i am new to kilt wearing. I've had some people think im odd for mentioning i was getting a kilt so im trying to get used to wearing one by wearing it to places where i feel I would be less judged then if i wore it out on daily errands or what have you.

[Hocfutue]

Some other holidays to commemorate kilted:

Red Hackle Day, January 5 (I wear my Black Watch)

Boy Scout Anniversary Day, Feb 8 (I need to get a MacLaren for next year)
Culloden Anniversary, April 16 (I wear my Murray of Athol)

Dunkirk Anniversary, 24 May through 4 June (I wear my Cameron of Erracht)

Balaclava Anniversary, October 25 (Sutherland is quite appropriate, Thin Red Streak/Line and all.)

I also wear it to commemorate my grandmother's birthday (from whom I draw my Scottish heritage.)

A lot has happened throughout history--something worth remembering every day if you want to!

[Cowher]

Father Bill, let me tell you a story. I am in an historical reenactment group called the Renaissance Scots Living History Association. Last July, we were at a festival here in Colorado. I had a very good friend who's Viking name was Fahrman. He was a fantastic leather worker and was teaching me the craft. 2 days before the festival, I was at his house. He was helping me to make a leather wrap for my sporran flask. We got the project done, and he filled the flask with Irish Mist, so I would have something to drink for the weekend. I went to the fest, did my thing, had a great time. I got home Sunday evening and found an email in my inbox from his sister, telling me that he had died of a heart attack on the Saturday that I was at the festival. He and I had planned on getting together on Monday so he could start teaching me how to braid leather lace- and then all of a sudden, he was gone. So you ask about special days- life is a gift. Every single day ending in "y," when you're still converting oxygen into carbon monoxide is special! That's all the reason I need- I'm alive today, and I may not be tomorrow. If my kilt isn't good enough for someone else, then that's just too damned bad. Wear it- wear it proudly, wear it with dignity, and wear it only on those special occasions that happen to be gifts from God.

With all sincerity from a pagan clergyman to a Christian one- Sliante! To your health, and continued experience of special days.

Rev. Nighthawk (That name, by the way, was given to me by my best friend and some of the members of his native American tribe, so it's not a nickname or screen name.)

I strongly support this. Why do you wear the preistly collar? It's signifying who you are and as I remember it was popularized be a man who was of the church of Scotland. You have a heritage that you view to be rich and meaningful. Wear it proud. Enjoy it and don't be afraid of the view of others. Remember Romans 12:2 you have no need to conform. I couldn't think of some one being taken aback of a kilted priest.

Ps NightHawk I am so sorry for your loss. Your friend will live on in many ways. One of them by you and your leather work.

[Nighthawk]

um, we generally make carbon dioxide not monoxide

Quite right. Corrected!

I strongly support this. Why do you wear the preistly collar? It's signifying who you are and as I remember it was popularized be a man who was of the church of Scotland. You have a heritage that you view to be rich and meaningful. Wear it proud. Enjoy it and don't be afraid of the view of others. Remember Romans 12:2 you have no need to conform. I couldn't think of some one being taken aback of a kilted priest.

Ps NightHawk I am so sorry for your loss. Your friend will live on in many ways. One of them by you and your leather work.

Yes sir. It's funny- it's been 7 months, and still every so often, I'll be working on a particularly difficult piece or problem and think to myself "I should call Rick!" And then... Oh yeah... The Viking horn that he made to have hanging over his work bench is one of the many things his sister gave me from his estate. It hangs over my work bench now, and is a great inspiration to me.

[Father Bill]

Father Bill, let me tell you a story.

That's a really deep one. Thank you for sharing something so meaningful to you, and point well taken.

[Father Bill]

Thanks fellows. Part of the thing for me in oh so very conservative SW Ontario is that as a priest, when I meet with folks I want to talk to them about their needs and thoughts about God and their own mortality, not about why I'm wearing something unusual. For the same reason, I don't use a Blackberrry - I don't want little old ladies stopping their train of thought when I make a note about something to bring from the church because they want to ask me what it is and how it works and why I use it - I want them to stay on their story, so I use a notebook which is virtually invisible to them.

Nonetheless, your points are well taken. Thank you for your advice, your thoughts, your support, your information, your humour, and your very serious remembrances too.

You're the best!

Bill

[KenB]

Just so our Welsh friends don't feel left out - add St. David's Day to your kilted days. It's coming up soon

[Joshua]

I wore my kilt, for no special reason yesterday. Went to eat, and to a department store to shop for some normal home stuff (although I got a tweed snap-brim cap while I was there). To make things easier, I brought my son (6) and he wanted to wear his kilt since daddy was wearing his.

I literally woke up and thought "today I should be in a kilt" - and made it happen.

[TheNaughtyScot]

At our church, which is Presbyterian, they issued our pastor a matching kilt and stoll in the clergy tartan. He wears the collar and black shirt under the argyll jacket often. I might even post a picture if I can find one.

-Ian