Kilt Culture

**Ozman1944** · 30th November 07, 01:49 PM

Australian born (now in USA) but Scottish/Welsh/Cornish ancestry. Finally at 63 was "brave" enough to don a Kilt. Now I hardly wear anything else, unless certain vocational occasions demand.

**auld argonian** · 30th November 07, 01:57 PM

My gosh, Padre...I grew up with the nuns and priests in the full floor length habits...they sort of levitated around like Daleks...we weren't even sure that they had legs...a kilt is pretty mainstream compared to that nowadays, eh?

Best

AA

**davedove** · 10th December 07, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

My gosh, Padre...I grew up with the nuns and priests in the full floor length habits...they sort of levitated around like Daleks...we weren't even sure that they had legs...

And here I didn't even know that Daleks had priests.

**Sir Robert** · 10th December 07, 03:31 PM

I decided not to read the other posts here so I skipped ahead to the last page, I did not want to contaminate my answer.

First I was in the SCA, a middle ages re-enacting group and they encourage historical research, which lead me to:

Second, I got into geneology and traced both my Mother's family and Father's family to Scotland. I did a lot of research and effectively all Scotsmen are decended from Kings. Gosh, I thought, I have the blood of kings coursing through my veins, which lead me to:

Three, I meet all of the requirments of three seperate Knighthoods. Kind of meaningless as the US Constitution outlaws titles of nobility in the USA, but that does not preclude earning them, just having.

Four, I found that my Father was an honest-to-God Baron. (Cool but no cigar, I have an older Brother and he has a son so my Brother inheirits the title not me.) Which lead me to:

Five, how do I say that I am not a peasant? Well by the 1800s the way a Scottish nobleman said that he was a damned English peasant was by wearing Scottish regailia, even if that meant he had to make it up himself.

So for me the kilt is my way of saying that I am a good man from a good family. From a Sociological perspective this is not one bit different from the colors that a biker wears, except that he is looking to advertize being a bad man from a bad "family".

Of course the rest of the US society views kilt wearers as cross dressers, screw them, their' Moma dresses them funny, I am a man among men.

**Sir Robert** · 10th December 07, 04:23 PM

Now I went back and read everyone elses' answers.

What does my family think? My daughter thinks it is cool.

What makes me accepting of kilting? Nothing. I do not care what you wear, none of my damn business.

**Coinneach** · 30th November 07, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by string

What brought you to kilting?
What are the reactions and feelings from your significant others and your families?
What do you think makes you accepting of kilting, as it is certainly not the norm, nor does everyone accept it?

To keep a long story short, I'm closer to my mother's side of the family than my father's. My mother's side has the Scot ancestry, though I still haven't confirmed the ancestor that crossed the great pond pre-1800. It was a cousin's wedding that gave me the first undeniable opportunity to go out and get a kilt and wear it. I've been hooked ever since.

My S.O.'s reaction was, at first, embarrassment. But I didn't let that stop me. He is much more accepting now, though he always assumes the reason someone says anything at all to me when we're out is because of the kilt. (Is it THAT difficult to believe I'm just darn adorable on my own?)

As for my family, I think my brother wants one, but he's expressed some concern that the neighbors already think he's odd enough. No comment from me on that.

I grew up in a military family. We traveled...well, if not a lot, enough...I got used to meeting/becoming friends with people from all over. My job has also allowed me to travel internationally. I try, even when I can't physically blend in, to adapt or try to understand and celebrate the local customs. I've learned to toss away a lot of preconceived notions. I like to think it keeps me young.

After that, I'm too old to give up comfort and kilts are just darn comfortable.

**Ozman1944** · 30th November 07, 02:03 PM

You got it A.A. Actually Both nuns & priests had legs specially fitted after Vatican II - it got too hard to levitate once the Mass went into English. The pair I got looked rather nice, so I thought I'd show them off in a kilt...

Now we have to stomp around just like everyone else. Bummer!

**McFarkus** · 11th December 07, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Ozman1944

You got it A.A. Actually Both nuns & priests had legs specially fitted after Vatican II - it got too hard to levitate once the Mass went into English. The pair I got looked rather nice, so I thought I'd show them off in a kilt...

Now we have to stomp around just like everyone else. Bummer!

My mother's grandmother told her that (in Virginia) in the 19th Century, ladies didn't have legs, their feet were pinned onto the bottom of their petticoats.

**string** · 30th November 07, 02:04 PM

I am still reading and enjoying, I shall have to check out that website.

Oh and not hacking up lung, I am asthmatic so I just quit breathing. Makes life interesting for those around me, and the side effects of the medicine can be... colorful to say the least.

**Nick the DSM** · 30th November 07, 02:51 PM

1. i found out i was scottish and irish, started to look in to my roots and i liked the way kilts looked and once i had one on...hard to get out of it.
2. my friends seems to enjoy it, my scottish side of the family likes, my other family hasnt seen it yet and ive only worn the kilt a few times outside the house.
3. why not express your roots and be comfortable with it? anyone can wear a kilt and i choose to, not caring about anyone else's opinion.