Thread: kilts

There's a lot of people with Scottish heritage in Australia too. Actually, when I was at primary school we had dancers and bands who all dressed up in traditional clothes - our own little version of the tattoo.

Americans are famous for when asked what nationality they are to give their ancestor's heritage. My friend from Scotland, when I told him I was mostly Scottish and a little English said you're an American. I lean more to the left politically (less than I used to) but I was surprised at how defensive I got when someone from another country said in chat "Well you Americans...". My blood boiled and it shocked me. (I must be getting old.) I wasn't expecting that level of nationalism and come to find out she was only kidding. That's the problem with typing. No tone.

Australians are a bit that way too (I mean, saying they're Scottish/Irish etc...) Maybe it's because Aus and US are relatively young countries?

An interesting aspect of Aussies is that if you can trace your ancestry to the First Fleet (convict ships) you are considered somewhat akin to royalty. I lived in the UK for 4 years while studying, and I got called a convict (in jest) all the time...

I agree with the idea of how young the countries are. Comparitively speaking our history is pretty short.

I'm a first generation immigrant but I tried to integrate myself into the local culture, while maintaining my own cultural identity AND picking up on other cultures in the pot. That's what I love about Canada. So many options.

I've never been to Canada, but I've had a lot of friends who have and they all rave about it. A common comment is that it's just like Australia but with snow (that sounds condescending, but for an Australian to compare another country to their own is a massive compliment). I think they are referring to the people and their outlook on life.

I reckon it's great to enhance your new society with your old culture. It's what makes life interesting. Maybe straights is a metaphor for that attitude.

James.

The more I meet people of differing cultures the more I see how similar we all are. I mean Scotts are not the only men in the world to dress in skirts. There are others that still do. I listened to an album of (arguably) the best band in the whole wide world of music, the band that practically introduced the world to World Music, The Chieftains called The Chieftains in China and it was astonishing to me. I could hardly tell where the Irish music left off and the Chinese music picked up.

Anybody remember this one?
"The earth’s a Big Blue Marble when you see it from out there.
The sun and moon declare our beauty’s very rare.
Folks are folks and kids are kids we share a common name.
We speak a different way but work and play the same.
We sing pretty much alike, enjoy Spring pretty much alike;
Peace and love we all understand and laughter, we use the very same brand.
Our differences, our problems from out there there’s not much trace
Our friendships they can place while looking at the face of the Big Blue Marble in space."

X

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

I'm a first generation immigrant but I tried to integrate myself into the local culture, while maintaining my own cultural identity AND picking up on other cultures in the pot.

Tsk, tsk. You immigrants and your pot.

Hmmm .... behold a true Scotsman

Well, I play bagpipes, so I have more kilt-wearing experience than most... And since I played competitively, I've worn it in all weather, from 100 degree Virginia or North Carolina heat, to freezing cold Christmas parades. I've worn a kilt on the NYC subway, on NJ Transit Trains, and on airplanes without incident. Actually, I've had more trouble on the band bus!

They are perfectly comfortable, especially in the cold, since the wool keeps you warm, and you probably will wear wool hose as well, leaving only your knees exposed, and they're all bone anyway. If you're thinking of a traditional wool tartan, I have a few words of advice: 1) Buy the 16oz. It will wear much better; and 2) go to a reputable maker. The ones you get on ebay are generally crap.

Of course, kilts are socially acceptable enough that they make casual ones now. Take a look at www.utilikilt.com or http://www.amerikilt.com/.