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Celtic Radio Community > General Discussion > A Question On Kilts...

Posted by: Viriato 01-Nov-2005, 07:06 AM

I think that I've been enough in Alba and I feel that is time for a full integration, so it came to my mind that I should be wearing a kilt, but (big but...) I am not born Scottish and I am afraid of offending people or braking traditions. The locals certainly have accept me as a Celt since they know about Galiza and they are absolutely fabulous with me, but I am not too sure if they think that I am a bit "deranged" I Know that in Galiza, in the times of Breogan, we used to wear something similar but not exactly the same and, as with the language, we lost the tradition of wearing it centuries ago. So, I am asking for advise: Would be right for me to wear a kilt? And if yes, There is a different type for the ones not born in Alba? A Scottish in Hastings thinks that he believes that there is something and that has to do with the colour or some restrictions on the complements or in the design or all together.

Posted by: Madadh 01-Nov-2005, 10:06 AM

Viriato, If you visit a local kilt maker, they should be able to help you find a kilt that would be appropriate to wear. If not you could always try a utilkilt, no one should be upset about one of those.

Posted by: subhuman 01-Nov-2005, 12:05 PM

If anything, you wanting to wear a kilt is keeping with tradition, not breaking tradition! It's definitely be right for you to wear one, and there is a Galicia or Galiza tartan available. There are also tartans for most regions, so you could pick one of those as well. A link to some is here: http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/weartart.htm You also have the option of following the time-honored tradition and asking the locals how they would feel about you wearing "their" tartan. As for being a bit deranged, well you are asking about wearing a kilt in a country where the thistles grow tall enough to cause injury......... On a serious note, I doubt that you'll regret buying and wearing a kilt. Anything else seems restrictive afterwards. A few other links to check out for tartans of no particular clan or regional ties: http://bearkilts.com/macbitseach/macbitseachpg.html http://www.utilikilts.com/ http://www.amerikilt.com/ Many kilt makers also allow you to design your own tartan. While this costs more, it allows you to personalize your look.

Posted by: Emmet 01-Nov-2005, 01:14 PM

"Would be right for me to wear a kilt?" Yes. "There is a different type for the ones not born in Alba?" No; virtually all philabeg kilts are of a relatively standardized construction. There are differences in pleating (knife vs. box pleating; most are knife pleated), and in how the tartan is displayed (pleated "to the stripe"; usually seen on military kilts, where the predominant horizontal stripe of the tartan is seen across the pleats, or pleated "to the sett", usually seen on civilian kilts, where the pattern of the tartan (the "sett") is repeated across the pleats). A woman's kilted skirt wraps and fastens opposite to that of a man's kilt (kilt on the right hip; kilted skirt on the left). Cheaper "casual" kilts tend to be made of less material; usually 4 yards; a traditionally made kilt has approximately 8 yards (depending upon the sett, which will affect the number of pleats). Cheaper kilts tend to be made of lighter material, and often cheaper cloth. "A Scottish in Hastings thinks that he believes that there is something and that has to do with the colour or some restrictions on the complements or in the design or all together." Tartans are associated with clans, districts, towns, countries, and even some companies. There are also "free setts"; trade tartans which aren't associated with anything. There is no "Tartan Police" who will fine you for wearing a tartan to which you're not "entitled" ("clan" tartans only date from the Celtic Romanticist movement of the Edwardian era anyway, and are largely the concoction of the woolen mills); there are no heraldic regulations regarding the wearing of tartan from the Lord Lyon. Wear what you want, however, it would be respectful to know a bit of the history of the clan or district you're representing by wearing the tartan (people ask all the time), and most people choose a tartan which has some affinity to them, be it an ancestral clan or district tartan, a national or state tartan, or an organizational tartan. There are also "self-coloured" kilts, too, which are in solid colours, the most famous being the saffron kilt of the Irish, but also green, red, blue, and even tweeds. A real, high-quality tailored kilt is quite expensive; with kilts, the old adage "you get what you pay for" doubly applies. Get the best you can afford; properly cared for it should last for many, many years.

Posted by: stoirmeil 02-Nov-2005, 10:39 AM

I'd like to add that Nancy Raven wrote and asked Clan MacLean if she could wear their hunting tartan, and they were very pleased and honored by the fact that she asked first, and graciously granted permission (which most any clan will). She now has new friends in the Highlands as a result. And another of our members created and registered his own new tartan that had colors symbolically significant to him.

Posted by: Viriato 03-Nov-2005, 02:34 PM

Wow! This is what is called a community... Thanks to every one. Madadh: In one of the links of subhuman shows the utilkilt and is pretty obvious that no one can be offended about that. In any case, as soon as go back to my boat I'll ask the Lochmaddy's Sheriff for the nearest kilt maker. He knows every thing in the islands... subhuman: Thank you very much for links. I had not idea about the Galician kilt! I've found some information about the old kilt like when the Romans did arrive there in the Santiago Library and it looks like the utilkilt but less elaborated and make of cow skin. The waistcoat was made of sheep skin. Still we have the habit of wearing waistcoat. I would like to hire your space, but find another way to pay because I don't give my Guinness away even if my life depend on it I'm a Guinnessadict. They send me every year a birthday card and every Xmas they send me from Eire funny things. I have a quite large collection of Guinness gifts. So in Galiza: Thistles used to grow knees high and the gorse to waist high -and huge thick brambles- so not news there... We make a kind of liquor from the yellow gorse's flower. Apart of the "Aguardiente" (Burning water) which is the same than the Breton "Gnôle" or the Irish... Oh! dear! I've forgotten... "Puchin?". It looks like water but burns like hell. Emmet: Nice to hear from you again! My tour of the Atlantic next year still stands. I'll make a post when I depart and where will be my first intended destination... if the wind and streams let do it in my way. Very interesting indeed... I've printed out your comments to show to the Sheriff. You have started something here. Now I'll not sleep until I find avery thing about kilts. I don't know where I'm going to put more books. I have already a pretty good Celt library, amen of all the others. Every time I move, it takes a full load of a large Mercedes Sprinter van only for the books. stoirmeil: Is what I thought. It doesn't cost anything and is a good show of respect. Is just that I'm a bit paranoic about offending people, that's all, and, as I said, this people has been very good to me.

Posted by: subhuman 03-Nov-2005, 03:06 PM

QUOTE No; virtually all philabeg kilts are of a relatively standardized construction Now you've done it, Emmet- we can start another discussion on kilts for Viriato explaining the different types.

Posted by: Shamalama 07-Nov-2005, 09:25 AM

My bride and I were invited to a 25th wedding anniversary "re-telling of the vows" ceremony here in the US. I was a bit surprised when the bride called me and requested that I wear my kilt to the ceremony. To have a kilt in "my" colors would require a custom weaving, and I've only found it at House Of Tartans (<a href="http://www.house-of-tartan.scotland.net/">http://www.house-of-tartan.scotland.net/</a>). It would cost +/- $700 USD, so I haven't gone that route yet. I have gone with the Stewart Black "which can be proudly worn by any man of Scottish descent, regardless of his name." I wear it with a traditional "tux" coat, shirt, and bowtie. It was an easy "first purchase" in that it was inexpensive yet looks good and wears well. I got it from Stillwater Kilts (<a href="http://www.stillwaterkilts.com/stdkilt.html">http://www.stillwaterkilts.com/stdkilt.html</a>) here in the US. I did have one precious little girl come up to me and ask why I was wearing a skirt. I knelt down to her and explained what a kilt was, who wears one, and how it differs from her skirt. She listened attentively, and we discussed her visiting Scotland and finding her own special colors and pattern. There was a picture taken of our conversation and I hope to get a copy of it. This is my first and only kilt so far, but as I become more comfortable wearing one in public I hope to purchase others - maybe even one day "my" kilt.

Posted by: stoirmeil 07-Nov-2005, 09:37 AM

QUOTE (Shamalama @ 07-Nov-2005, 10:25 AM) There was a picture taken of our conversation and I hope to get a copy of it. Would love to see that. What a sweet anecdote!

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Posted by: Abellaava 04-Apr-2021, 12:44 AM

QUOTE (Madadh @ 01-Nov-2005, 10:06 AM) Viriato, If you visit a local kilt maker, they should be able to help you find a kilt that would be appropriate to wear. If not you could always try a utilkilt, no one should be upset about one of those. I Found Utili Kilts listing at Kilt Guide. https://kiltguide.com/directory/utili-kilts.html

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