Scottish Kilts: Modern Usage


Figure 1.--Elaborately costumed dancers are a popular attraction at Highland Gatherings around the world. This Scottish boy is practicing before his competition. Click on the image for a panoramic view.

Kilts have not disappeared in the modern world. Boys wear kilts as both schoolwear and as youth group uniforms. They are often worn for a varity of special events. Some Scottish boys report that they wore kilts to church and Sunday school when they were growing up. One Scottish contributor reports that during the 1950s and 60s went to church as a family almost every week. One of the most popular events, other than the sheep dog trials at Highland gatherings are the dancing competitions. Higland dancing along with the kilt are two beloved symbols of Scotland. Kilts are also of course seen at a variety of ethnic events, especially the various Galelic events held annually. The most well known are the Highland gatherings now held around the world. These events are perhaps best known for the dancing, pipe bands, and athletic evets--that is of course after the sheep dog events. It is not just the dancers and other competitors (athletic and pipe band members) that wear kilts. Boys and men in Scotland may choose to wear a kilt for formal dress. These outfits could be quite elaborate with lacey jabots and silk blouses. Weddings are one such event for which kilts are worn, but there are many others, including baptisms, christenings, anniversaries, partriotic observances, graduations, birthdays, and many other suuch events. Notably the tradition of English princes wearing kilts appears to have died out. While Prince Charles often wore a kilt as a boy, his sons virtually never appear dressed in the kilt--even during trips to Balmoral. Some schools in Scotland and Ireland adopted kilts as a school uniform. This is no longer the case, but they are still commonly worn for dress occasions at many Scotish schools. Some of the boys don't much like the idea, especially the English and occasional American boys at the schools. Kilts are also worn by school cadet groups and by pipe bands at schools around the world. Kilts are also worn by Scottish boy scouts. This is primarily for dress occasions are a variety of functuions as they are too expensive and not very practical for camping. Today it is mostly Scottish Scouts that wear kilts.

Church Attendance

Some Scottish boys report that they wore kilts to church and Sunday school when they were growing up. One Scottish contributor reports that during the 1950s and 60s went to church as a family almost every week. He wasn't the only boy wearing a kilt, so it wasn't that unusual, although most younger boys wore shortpants suits and the older boy long pants suits. Church attendance has since fallen considerably. I'm not sure what the situation is in Scotland during the 1990s, but I think it is relatively rare except for special occasions.

Dance Competitions

One of the most popular events, other than the sheep dog trials at Highland gatherings are the dancing competitions. Higland dancing along with the kilt are two beloved symbols of Scotland. Its origins lie in the art of the ancient Celtic Scots. Modern Higland dancing is usually performed solo and is characterized by its typically sharp movements and the accompanying music. It's typically dance to the tune of the bagpipes. The dances are made up of different parts, called steps. There are usually four or six steps to a dance. Traditional Highland Dancing generally refers to a relatively few dances, especially the Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Truibhas, and the Strathspey and Highland Reel or Reel of Tulloch. The basic movements in Higland dance are both strong and graceful. The hands are used expresively, quite different from the traditional dance of the neigboring Celtic people, the Irish. Higland dance was traditionally performed by Scottish men. Highland dancing is now performed by both men and women. In fact most competitors at Highland dance competitions are the lasses. Highland dancing is one of the few arenas where men and women compete equally. The dancers perform in elaborate costumes, however, the kilt and other costume garments appear to be relatively recent in origin. A dancer usually wears a kilt, Argyle socks and jacket/vest. Girls women wear vests or jackets of velvet and men wear a formal jacket such as a Prince Charlie along with a cap and sporran.

Ethnic Events/Highland Gatherings

Kilts are also of course seen at a variety of ethnic events, especially the various Galelic events held annually. The most well known are the Highland gatherings now held around the world. These events are perhaps best known for the dancing, pipe bands, and athletic evets--that is of course after the sheep dog events. It is not just the dancers and other competitors (athletic and pipe band members) that wear kilts. Scottish men and boys who attend Higland gatherings often wear kilts. Of course the best known are the participants such as the dancers, pipers, and athletic participants that wear them. There are also many other competitions such as thoise for individual drimmers and pipers. Many visitors anbd not just the compettors ear kilts as well. Boys of Irish ancestry commonly wear kilts for step dancing competitions called feises. Most of the boys are not actually Irish, because most people of Irish ancestry live outside Ireland. Ther are significant differences btween the Higland Gatherings and the Irish feises. There are no athletic competitions at Irish feises. Boys at feises only wear the kilts to dance. As soon their competition is over, they take off their kilts. This is most common in Scotland of course, but also true of the Highland Gatherings in other countries as well, including America and Canada.

Formal Dress

Boys and men in Scotland may choose to wear a kilt for formal dress. These outfits could be quite elaborate with lacey jabots and silk blouses. Weddings are one such event for which kilts are worn, but there are many others, including baptisms, christenings, anniversaries, partriotic observances, graduations, birthdays, and many other suuch events. For the most part, this involves Scottish boys. Weathy English familoes, however, are not unknown to have dressed their boys in kilts on occassion. This was also the case in America. Wealthy American boys in the late 19th Century were sometimes dressed in highland garb. (Kilt suits were more common.) Many of the boys like Franklin Rooselvelt were not to happy about this. The custom dis not die ut completely in the 20th Century. Malcomb Forbes, the U.S. publisher, liked to dress his sons (incliding U.S. presidential candidate Steve Forbes and his brithers in Higkland kilts.

Royalty

Notably the tradition of English princes wearing kilts appears to have died out. While Prince Charles often wore a kilt as a boy, his sons virtually never appear dressed in the kilt--even during trips to Balmoral. Many recent photographs show Prince Charles in kilts at Balmoral, but his sons in slacks. It seems the tradition of dressing the royal children in kilts has ended. I know of no information explaining this, but presumably the boys themselves objected.

School Uniforms

Some schools in Scotland and Ireland adopted kilts as a school uniform. This is no longer the case, but they are still commonly worn for dress occasions at many Scotish schools. Some of the boys don't much like the idea, especially the English and occasional American boys at the schools. Kilts are also worn by school cadet groups and by pipe bands at schools around the world.

Scottish Youth Groups

Kilts are also worn by Scottish boy scouts. This is primarily for dress occasions are a variety of functuions as they are too expensive and not very practical for camping. Today it is mostly Scottish Scouts that wear kilts. They are still worn quite commonly by the Scouts. Scottish Cubs also once wore kilts, although not as commonly as the Scouts. It was more common for Cubs to wear grey short pants. Today few Cubs wears kilts, like English Cubs, they mostly wear long pants. Scottish Boys Brigade units also wore the kilt. The Boy's Brigade actually began in Scotland. I am not sure how common it was to wear the kilt with the uniform. Scottish members of the Boys' Brigade now primarily wear long pants. I think some boys may wear the kilt, but I have little information at this time.


Figure 7.--English and Scottish formal weddings may have the ringbearer and pages dressed in kilts, often with strap or buckle shoes and white socks. Note the large ribbon dangling from the boy's back.

Weddings

Kilts are often worn by men and boys at weddings. Younger boys serving as Ring bearers often wear kilts in Scotland and England, and sometimes even in America. Many formal English weddings had the ring bearer and pages in kilts, but knicker pageboy outfits are now more common. The kilt is still commonly used at formal weddings in Scotland. But in Scotland it is not just the ring bearer or pages who may wear kilts. Many of the males invitees may also chose the kilt as their dress outfit.







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Created: September 18, 2002
Last updated: September 18, 2002