Kilt Culture

[Riverkilt]

Hey String, hope you're feeling better by now.

I'm weird...have been around things Scottish all my life, highland games, pipers, my grandfather Murdoch's stories, and books of tartans. But, I never once considered a kilt for "myself" until I was at a Ren Faire and saw a guy in a Utilikilt. No clue why, I just had to have one. Looked them up on the Net and ordered. So I guess it was "Scottish Jeans" that did the trick for me. Go figure...now I like tartan kilts...lots of them!

Being a single old geezer living in a bear cave and between women when I took up with kilts there wasn't an issue with a significant other. The usual mixed reactions from the rest of the world. My current lady has only known me as a kiltie and she's obviously okay with it but says she likes my "butt" better in pants....talk about make an olde guy proud...but that's not enough to forsake the freedom and comfort of klts.

I used to be a shy kid...somewhere along the line working in the mines, the USMC, law enforcement, corporate sales, and lots of booze took care of that. Now, I really don't care what others think of me. I wanna live my life the way I want to in the years left. We're a long time dead and I enjoy enjoying life. Kilts help me do that.

And for me its pure joy how kilts cut across culture and the generations.

I only wish I'd discovered kilts before going back to college...those classes would have been soooo much more comfortable to sit through. Nine years of sitting at night to finish the BA and Masters.

Ron

[Sir Robert]

Typically mottos are in French. In high French mine means "Your Mother!" Fighting words more less. Only an Englishman would have a motto in Latin. The English look back fondly at a time when Caesar's protected his peasants. My pictish ancestors frightened Caesar. My people were never conquered and Scotland never pacified until the clearances emptied the highlands.

[macwilkin]

Typically mottos are in French. In high French mine means "Your Mother!" Fighting words more less. Only an Englishman would have a motto in Latin. The English look back fondly at a time when Caesar's protected his peasants. My pictish ancestors frightened Caesar. My people were never conquered and Scotland never pacified until the clearances emptied the highlands.

Nonsense. There are a number of Highland Clans with Latin mottos, such as the Clan Donald:

Per mare per terras

Latin & Norman French are commonly used in heraldry for mottos.

Regards,

Todd

[string]

Hey String, hope you're feeling better by now.

Yes, I am much better, thank you. Breathing is good, who knew?

and Sir Robert, yes tis French, but Your Mom is exactly the same in Latin if my very rust Latin from several years ago holds true.

[Big Paul]

I got into wearing kilts through genealogy. My bother and I started researching our family history. With the last name of Murray, it wasn't long before I was going to my first highland games. After going and taking in all that was to be offered. I thought it would be cool to have a kilt in the Murray tartan for the next time I went. I looked into getting one made and felt it was too much for a once or twice a year wearing.

Well, couple of years and highland games came and went.. Now a friend of mine is getting married and thinking of doing a kilted wedding.. I thought that this would be a real good accuse for me to buy my own.. All the groomsmen said OK! But the bride and groom changed their minds.. RATZ!

Now a couple years later, I'm getting married.. I talked it over with my bride, and she said that if that's what I want!!! I ordered the bugger! A hand sewn, 9 yards (I'm a big guy) of 13oz Murray of Atholl Modern, work of art!! Once I wore it, I was hopelessly hooked..

My first kilted outing was, my wedding day, on the strip in Las Vegas!! Talk about baptism by fire! I loved it!! The fit and feel were awesome and the reactions from my family, friends and all the people I walked past in Vegas, was amazing! Now I do my best to find reasons to put it on!

[McFarkus]

I and discovered that I was of Scottish decent. With ties to the Gordon Clan, and I thought it would be great to explore and learn more about my heritage. The kilt grew out of that, as for my family they range from indefferance to uneasiness.

Another Gordon cousin!!!

[McFarkus]

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.

[phenn012]

I reckon its because its different. I find it nice to wear something open ended.
Its a bit daring as well especially if its leather like mine.
I'm not Scottish or Irish, but enjoy wearing a kilt all the same.
Pete.

[McFarkus]

Yes, I am much better, thank you. Breathing is good, who knew?

and Sir Robert, yes tis French, but Your Mom is exactly the same in Latin if my very rust Latin from several years ago holds true.

Latin would be Mater (nominative) or Matrem (accusative)

[Don Patrick]

String,

My research into genealogy brought me into kilting. I discovered my roots. Both sides of my family come from a Scottish background. Patricks of the Lamont Clan and the Grays of the Grey/Gray Clan. I think it is a shame that so many could have come before us, and we know so little about them. Without them we would not be here today.

So far I'm still a closet kilt wearer. I only just received my first kilt last Saturday. My best friend is however aware and supports them. Possibly come January 10, I will make my first appearance in public. Actually, I just posted my photo in a kilt here and on my myspace site - so I guess I have already gone public.

I will be limited to when and where I wear my kilt(s), because I'm a dedicated motorcycle rider, but I hope to orchestrate as many opportunities as I can.