Kilts why

The kilt is more than just a covering. It allowed those who wore it to move much more freely, especially in the Highlands of Scotland where the weather can become very damp. With its tight weave of strong wool, it created a barrier between the rain and skin. People without Jacobite leanings wore them as a romantic fashion statement.

Others wore kilts to protest general English oppression. The ban was lifted in Thirty-six years was a long time for a useless ban to be in effect. After the ban, the kilt became an enduring symbol of Scottish identity, and tartan patterns represented particular clans, families, and regions. Today there are 3, specific tartan family plaids.

The garment takes 20 — 25 hours to make, they are mostly handmade, and the tartan pattern must remain unbroken. They have 29 pleats and use about 8 yards of fabric. A proper kilt is usually accompanied by a sporran , a small bag worn around the waist and over the kilt. What do men wear underneath their kilt? Through such images, the kilt has come to represent a ready access to Highland male sexuality. For non-Scotsmen, it provides the means of asserting a self-consciously yet unambiguously masculine persona.

As such, they have proved particularly successful among youth and countercultural movements such as punks in the s and new romantics in the s. Since the early s, kilts and skirt-kilts have entered the lexicon of gay fashion.

Worn by gay men as an expression of hyper-masculinity and a flaunting of perceived femininity, the kilt has now become a standard item in the masculinized gay wardrobe. Bolton, Andrew. Chapman, Malcolm. The Celts: The Construction of a Myth. New York: St. Martin's Press, Cheape, Hugh. Tartan: The Highland Habit.

Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland, New York: Cambridge University Press, We took a minute to consider the history of family crests, too. The tartan acted as a pattern specific to a family or clan. In the event of a mishap, the kilt tartan could help to identify where the person came from, er, which region and, hopefully, which family. In lieu of dog tags or licenses, the kilt was worn as an identity finder.

When you travel to Ireland , based on modern day luxuries like hot water, you may think the kilt was merely a cultural show piece. In fact, for the men who wore them every day, traipsing through mountains, it kept them warm, dry and helped others recognize their family origins. Why Book With Tenon Tours? Free Guide: British Isles Vacations.

Managed Hosting by Grace at Work. New Trust in Tenon Policy. Kilts: The Why Behind the Wearing. Ready to start planning your trip to the British Isles?