Wearing a kilt

[rick ruhland]

Fans of Scotland!

I recently had a discussion with friends about my passion, Scotland. They know that I wear a kilt every now and then. I do have Scotland in my heart and I talk about my second home country as much as I can. Nevertheless, I am not Scottish, nor do I belong to a clan.

My question is: can one wear a kilt with a tartan of a clan one doesn't belong to?

Looking forward to your opinion!

Cheers, rick

[David Taylor]

Hello there Rick,

I suppose it is a compliment to Scotland that you find such an affinity to our country. Who knows, somewhere in your ancestry you may have Scots blood! During the 16th and 17th centuries there was much comings-and-goings between Scotland and the Low Countries - particularly in trading.

Originally, the kilt was important in clan warfare as a means of identification, and it still nowadays gives that sense of kinship and belonging, as well as being the ultimate dress for our nation. There is an abundance of tartans around which have little to do with clans. Hundreds in fact. There are no laws which prohibits you from wearing whichever one you fancy. I myself use the Cameron of Erracht Ancient, of which the Taylors are a sept. I also have in my ancestry the names of Hay, Murray and Sinclair, any of which I feel I could also wear safely! From a personal point of view, I would not wear any tartan with which I had no ties!! Colour is also important. There are some tartans around I wouldn't be seen dead in!

The important thing to remember is what to wear underneath - NOTHING - unless, of course, you are involved in a Foursome Reel or Tossing the Caber - or the like!

Hope this helps

David

[rick ruhland]

Hi David,

Thanx for sharing your view with me. Sometimes I wish I had some Scottish blood in me. At least I would understand why Scotland bothers me so much :-). And you do have a strong point: it does give a sense of kinship and belonging, as well as it is a way of expressing my feelings for 'our nation'.

I think that wearing a kilt makes me proud. Friends and family know my passion for all things Scottish. And maybe someday I create my own tartan and make kilts, plaids with the Ruhland-tartan.

So thanx again for your remarks.

Cheers, rick

[David Taylor]

Hello again,

There are other countries who have registered tartans, and there is absolutely no reason why you can't also. If you do decide to have a go, check out the website - www.tartanregister.gov.uk - and how to go about it. Choose colours carefully which you feel are sympathetic to your own country - its people and environment. Make sure it is properly registered - and who knows, you may just have a winner!! As you say, it's not just kilts, but also ladies' skirts, plaids, ties, and anything else you can think of!

Best of luck!

David

[Sephton (Mac) MacQuire]

Hi Rick,

Although the kilt is seen as Scottish there are of course kilts worn by other Celtic nations the likes of the Irish Army Pipe band, although it is just plain saffron coloured and they wear no sporran or sgian dhu with it and their jackets are slightly longer. The Cornish have also taken to wear it in the Cornish tartan, but have gone a wee bit overboard by copying the Scots in everything including wearing sporran etc. which in my mind really not part of their heritage as with the Highlanders. When Highlanders were enticed into the British Army in the late 1700's there were a number of mutiny's in Highland regiments when the British Government attempted to anglofile their dress. As you may well know the kilt was a proscribed item of dress after the battle of Culloden. As David has said there are many tartans now which have been registered outwith Scotland. Irish county tartans, Welsh national and many other and of course new Scottish one's including Scottish National, Glasgow City and many more to choose from. What ever tartan you choose, you will always feel special wearing the kilt.
Slainte,
Mac

[rick ruhland]

Hi Mac and David,

I am thinking about designing my own tartan (you don´t need te do that, but if someone wants to create a tartan of his own: http://www.houseoftartan.co.uk/ is a nice play to start). That might be a long term project.

Till then, I'm happy to wear the kilt I have right now.

cheers, rick

[Debera Morrison Howard]

Yes indeed you can wear a kilt. There are tartan's that aren't clan related but socially related. Look up tartan's they will have them listed. This way you won't have to wear a tartan that isn't part of your heritage as far as clans go; but a regional tartan. I have both family and clan in my heritage. It is my understanding that the Shearers predated the clan system they were from around the Aberdeen area I believe. Although my Grandmother spoke Doric, which area is this dialect from? Then the clan part of my heritage are the Morrison from Lewis. The Shearers didn't have a tartan, I don't believe they even wore a kilt. They were working class, sheep farmers and shearers thus the name Shearers. So I am opened for correction here not sure if I am spot on with this.

Slan leat,
Debera