Kilts 4 u
This post is dedicated to the old Scottish tradition of wearing kilts. But there’s a couple of questions some of you might have asked yourselves:
Is it really a Scottish tradition – Or is the Irish claim of having invented it based on facts?
Are they wearing something under their kilts and – if not – why are they not freezing?!
Is there a simpler way of looking Scottish – for example at the beach? … You’ll see where I am going with this !
These and more questions will be answered by the help of Matthew A. Newsome and the facts I found on his website.
Irish or Scottish tradition?
The common consensus is, that the kilt is a Scottish tradition. However, there are still some who desperately defend their opinion that the Irish first introduced the Kilt. This commonly spread mistake can be proven wrong by investigating old pictures and drawings and research about ancient Irish dresses. The confusion derives from the fact that the Irish wore a leine, or Irish tunic, which also reaches the knees.
The kilt actually became common during the late 16th century in the Scottish highlands, i.e. the northwest of Scotland. Back then, it was actually several layers of plaid with a belt around it – a belted plaid.
The tartan pattern was widely common in the 16th century, and the plaids which the kilts were made from had a variety of patterns. They were not related to any specific clans yet, but rather dependend on the material available to the weavers and on the wealth of the purchaser. The relation between clans and setts (tartans) only got established in the 19th century. Today, there are also specific tartans for regions, cities and even universities.
The decision whether to wear underwear or not is entirely up to the wearer of the kilt himself. There have been military regulations though, and some say that a “true Scotsman” does not wear anything under his kilt. Since a kilt has several layers, there are no health issues to be concerned about. Everything should be warm enough at any weather!
The Insta-Kilt
This is my favourite part: A new invention for the beach and anywhere else, which gives you the opportunity to dress up in a kilt without the complicated needles and wrappings in seconds! The insta-kilt is a beach towel with a tartan pattern and a sporran! You can purchase them on ebay and other shops.
Be careful though! It might not provide as much protection against the weather as a real kilt!
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