We all know that Scotsmen are supposed to be tough-as-nail characters with a long and fierce lineage of warriors. Just look at the way William Wallace whooped up on the English (see Mel Gibson in Braveheart). But if these guys are so tough, what’s up with those colorful plaid kilts they wear? Could it be that the macho Scotsmen have a thing for women’s fashion, or perhaps they’re just not afraid to embrace their feminine side? Not quite.
The garment’s popularity arose because of practical rather than ceremonial
or aesthetic reasons. For one, the climate and geography of the Highlands of Scotland — with its mountainous and damp terrain and innumerable streams and rivers — made the prospect of wearing long pants a senseless chore. The kilt provided a far more practical and versatile option. Early kilts covered not only the waist-to-knee region, but the upper torso as well. They were essentially huge blankets, which were wrapped around the body several times — sort of like a warm toga. This one garment served not only as trousers, but as a sleeping bag and blanket as well, perfect for shielding off the cold and wind. Also, kilts allowed shepherds to leave their home for months wearing just this one multi-purpose garment, lightening their load considerably. And because the elements needed to make kilts were so readily available — wool from the sheep and plaid prints from native vegetable dyes — even the poorest of Highlanders could afford one.
The 1746 English Prohibition Act banned the wearing of both the kilt and any tartan material by anyone except the Highlands regiment. Nonetheless, the headstrong Scotsmen kept their kilts and continued to wear them surreptitiously at closed gatherings. The kilt eventually became an important symbol of Scottish pride.
As Scotsmen needed the blanket-like garment less and less for practical reasons in the 19th and 20th centuries, the kilt actually gained in significance as a way for Scotland to mark its independence from England. Today, the only time you’re likely to see a kilt is during a parade or at the Highland Games, where, during one of the many strenuous and athletic events, thousands of curious onlookers hope to get a peek at what the Scotsmen wear under their kilts.
This article appears in Apr 3-9, 2002.
