Americans React to The Great Kilt - The Ultimate Survival Blanket?

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In this video we react to the great kilt, also known as the belted plaid. Like most people, we've seen Scottish men wear kilts, but we had no idea the great kilt is something completely different from the more modern kilt we see today. Join us as we discover the importance of the great kilt to the people in the Highlands of Scotland and Scottish culture in general. The great kilt is incredible. Not only is it a stylish piece of clothing, but it can be a survival blanket, tent, camouflage and even a bag to carry things in. It's amazing how many real world uses the great kilt has.
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[@Peterraymond67]

Hi Lyndsey & Steve. I think one of the reasons you can’t get much wool is the fact that sheep are a rare animal in the USA. I live in Wales, and we have more sheep than people, were famous for it! Lamb & Mutton are readily available meats. It is not unusual for American tourists to stop and take pictures of sheep much to annoyance of the locals. If you have a vibrant sheep economy, then wool is a sort of a biproduct. The Cotswold area in the west of England made a name for itself in the farming and wool trade.

[@no-oneinparticular7264]

Baaaa 😂

[@Rachel_M_]

5.2 million sheep in the US. Over 11 million in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@ruthb7605]

The sad thing is you can barely give the fleeces away after shearing, the price of raw wool has plummeted

[@ritaboes]

​@@ruthb7605yeah same here in the Netherlands. Much sheds with shavings that not get sold or even taken for free. I wish i could crochet or knit with wool but i'm to allergic 😢.

[@xander8559]

Not gonna lie when you said "it's not unusual" I swear I read that in Tom Jones voice

[@TanyaRando]

During WW2 people in the UK did go back to some of the older ways, any piece of garden was taken over to grow vegetables to supplement rationing. People kept chickens and people made their own clothes. Food and materials were rationed. My mum remembers rationing right up into the 50's.

[@sjbict]

The rationing lasted longer because we were also helping to feed Europe especially Germany after the war

[@1justme]

They made wedding dresses out of old parachutes aswell.

[@TerenceDixon-l6b]

I still my Identity card issued following the war and a couple of old ration books.

[@Frances86.]

I live in Scotland and I can assure you people do not go round every day wearing kilts. Kilts are worn as formal attire so most Scottish men choose to wear a kilt to a wedding although this is not everyone’s choice. They might also be worn at graduation ceremonies or if there was a posh annual burns supper event. Kilts are expensive and you have to go to special shops to get them. Cheap, more casual versions can be bought in other shops and some people wear them to football matches although these people are rare. It’s unusual to see anyone in a kilt who is not at a wedding or performing in some sort of Scottish ceremony like a pipe band performance etc.

[@MrsIzzy52]

Totally Agree with you, men in Scotland where I’m from, where I live certainly don’t walk about in Kilts, they don’t go out in their great kilts to the highlands and camp for the night either. The majority of Scotsmen don’t even own a kilt, they hire them for weddings, graduations, Burns Suppers etc. My husbands family tartan is The Lindsay tartan and he wore it on our wedding day, our wedding cake was wrapped around with Lindsay tartan ribbon on each layer, the roses on our cakes were tied with Lindsay Tartan Ribbon, his buttonhole was a fresh thistle & Lindsay tartan ribbon there were only 2 men in tartan that day and it was my husband and his best man & his son who is now my stepson. Any wedding we go to David will wear the Lindsay Tartan kilt and he is a True Scotsman iykyk 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Saor Alba Much love Isabella & David Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@TheUnhousedWanderer]

I've looked at some of the old Scottish mills. To make my own kilt, I'd spend $2,000 USD on 8yds of wool alone, then still have to sew it myself. Yeah, definitely for special occasion only lol

[@Euroscot9155]

​@@TheUnhousedWandererYou would be cheaper travelling to Scotland and getting a fitted kilt for about $500

[@lucylindsay3442]

Kilts are not daily wear for most people but are for special occasions (weddings etc) if you have links to a tartan etc.

[@chrisaris8756]

There will be a tirade of bad jokes about kilts! The kilt as you see it nowadays came into being in about 1860 under Queen Victoria’s reign. The kilt then was split into two parts the kilt and the plaid which is worn round the chest and over the shoulder, held in place with a decorative plain pin. The great kilt this guy has is filibeg and filimohr. The first was the larger and worn how this guy has it and the mohr terminates at the shoulder held by a pin. The modern kilts have two patterns of pleating at the back - to line (usually military style) and to pattern (usually civilian). The pattern system means the pleating carries the tartan pattern round the back. To line picks up on an element of the pattern and is pleated to that. I prefer to line as the appearance of the kilt at the back changes when you walk as it opens and closes. We used to buy our tartan at Lochcarron one of the few proper tartan manufacturers left. The tartan he is wearing is what we call Ancient Hues made from vegetable dyes. The more modern kilts have much brighter tartans made with newer dyes. Most tartans come in a “standard” tartan, a “hunting” usually green background and “dress” which is the less popular and has a lot of white in it. There’s a whole load of other tradition that goes with the kilt but this would go on forever. One myth - there is no law against wearing any tartan. My wife is a part of the Angus clan but we wear McInnes (who are a part, or sept, of Angus) because we prefer it. In case you’re wondering, I used to run a Highland Supplies business and kilt makers. Oh yes and played the great highland bagpipes!! Cheers

[@lynnejamieson2063]

I’d like to add that not every family has a tartan to represent it (either through direct representation or being a sept of a clan). One of my Grandparents has a very old surname, McEachran whose origins are traced back to Dalriada (which as we grew up in a small town on the Southern bank of The Clyde, we grew up looking out to it) but there is no tartan to represent them directly and they are not a sept of another Clan and although not necessarily an overly common surname, I wouldn’t say that it’s unheard of either. With being such an old surname there are obviously multiple variations in the spelling and as such there are maybe one or two pretty recent tartan commissions to create a tartan for a specific family (as opposed to the Clan) but nothing for the Clan in general…and I spent a lot of time looking in regards to a recent craft project of mine for my eldest siblings birthday present, where I made him a Saltire out of tartans that represent both Clans of our predecessors, some of his closest and longest lasting friendships, something to represent his wife (who has an English surname) and also something representative of where he has lived for the best part of three decades. I did however find that there was (not too long ago) a piece of tartan found in a Castle near Oban that is thought to be the oldest known piece of tartan, that has now been reproduced and is kind of referred to as the Dalriada tartan as it is typical of the colourings that would have been used in that general area…and I must admit that it is beautiful and mainly autumnal tones. Anyhoo, that turned into a ramble of information that you’re likely wondering why I gave you…sorry. I suppose I just wanted to clarify that not every Clan has a tartan representing it and if you can’t find one, there is always an alternative via location…and that there are more tartans in your family than just the one representing your surname.

[@karenblackadder1183]

​@@lynnejamieson2063Try having Blackadder as a surname!!! If I go further south than Preston, I struggle to book a hotel or taxi. They all think it's a made up surname for the programme!!

[@auldfouter8661]

Are you sure about the names? beg means small and mohr is big.

[@lynnejamieson2063]

@@karenblackadder1183 I feel for you. Though it’s best to be grateful for small mercies, like the fact your name is neither Edna nor Edmond…even if you probably want to scream sometimes.

[@hmcbride01]

You have a dress kilt, mainly worn for formal occassions, weddings, graduations and formal dances, kilts are very heavy as they're made of pure wool. The one he's wearing is a much older kilt where the men in the hills had to use part of the kilt as a blanket when sleeping. The English banned the kilt and scottish tongue during the highland clearences

[@73whitezz]

I'm a weaver on the Isle of Harris, I weaved over 20 yards for a friend of mine who wanted enough tweed for 2 kilts. That was years ago & they still look great after years of hard wearing. The lanolin in the wool helps repel water, also wool is pretty fireproof, it'll smoulder but not burst into flame.

[@reactingtomyroots]

That's awesome!

[@gallowglass2630]

@@reactingtomyroots Apart from pipebands kilts are not apart of irish culture in any shape or form.There was attempts to make it popular and irish boy dancers were forced to wear them,but thats all gone never became popular..The scots do when scottish sports teams play in dublin they are supported by thousands of fans in kilts,we don't do that at all.

[@PaulEcosse]

@@gallowglass2630 Most likely it was something the 2nd or 3rd generaion after the lowland farmers settled in Ulster would wear to Weddings and fancy ocassions. Just as they still do now in Scotland.

[@PaulEcosse]

@@gallowglass2630 I guess if this generation of American Scotch-Irish or American-Scottish want to wear a kilt of sorts that's up to them I wouldn't have a problem with it. And many still do of course.

[@gallowglass2630]

@@PaulEcosse I am from the republic and definitely is not a thing here there maybe some of ulster scot descendant in the north who wear them at weddings but thats to represent their scotish origins rather any thing to with ireland.Definitely don't see Ni football fans wearing them any way.

[@trevorgrimes7273]

Hi Steve. Lindsey .If you want to see more Kilts Pipes And Drums watch marching down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh a must see tourist attraction. Good Luck

[@lynjones2461]

Not only were kilts banned but in my country Wales our language was forbidden by Henry VIII and English became the main language Welsh long bowmen were considered the elite in medieval warfare and were truly formidable xx

[@reactingtomyroots]

I'm glad it seems things are taking a turn in the right direction again.

[@lynnm6413]

Be proud of your heritage…Dewch ymlaen, Cymru! All the best, I‘d love to visit one day..from 🇩🇪

[@gillianrimmer7733]

The Welsh language wasn't forbidden by Henry Vlll.After The Act of Union between Wales and England in 1536 , all government and legal business had to be recorded in English, not Welsh, but it didn't mean that Welsh was banned for everyday speech and business.

[@CeltiChris]

As a Scotsman, I love the Welsh. Like us, they're not very fond of the bully next door. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@jonathangoll2918]

Henry VIII was from a Welsh dynasty. Although it was decreed that English would be the language of the law courts, the Tudors encouraged the use of Welsh in Church services; in those days Church services were laid down in law, and so the fact that the Prayer Book was produced in Welsh, and the Bible had an official, good translation into Welsh was very important. I believe the worst that the UK Government did as regards the Welsh language was in the nineteenth century. For a while children were punished for speaking Welsh in schools.

[@claregale9011]

Hi guys , love this kind of info so interesting , black people in the u.s were not even allowed to sit at the front of a bus and that was the 50s / 60s yes all through history people have been oppressed , for their culture , skin colour , religion , sexual orientation, gender , yes it absolutely still happens today .

[@patriciawenzel3871]

The Irish Kilt is worn by some in the Irish armed forces usually bands. The Irish kilt is not a tartan but a solid colour, Traditionally saffron coloured (a gold colour).

[@gallowglass2630]

just the bands ordinary not ordinary soldiers

[@StephMcAlea]

We Welsh have a few kilts but they're basic. The Cornish have one too but I believe it's all the same pattern, black with white thread.

[@TerenceDixon-l6b]

The pleating at the back is also a defence against a sword slash from the rear due to the extra thickness of the fabric created by the pleats, and protects the ankles due to its length, and of course it provides comfort and warmth when sitting on cold, hard surfaces. The all round pleating of the garish dress kilt is really just decoration, as far as I'm aware.

[@markjones127]

In the UK it wasn't just Gaelic culture, it was Celtic culture as a whole the English attempted to irradicate, in Welsh schools the speaking of the Welsh language was banned and a wooden board called the Welsh Knot would have to be worn around the neck by any child caught speaking Welsh, which would be passed around throughout the day, the child wearing the knot at the end of the day was punished, it didn't work though, out of all the UK countries a higher percentage of Welsh can still speak their native language more than any other. The equivalent for you guys would be the culture of the Native Americans.

[@djs98blue]

Yes, I am English, but we have an awful history of tyranny and genocide. What's also interesting along these lines is that Cymru means 'the people' or 'fellow countrymen' whereas Wales is English for 'foreigners'.

[@markjones127]

@@djs98blue Yeah that's why some Welsh people never say Wales and always say Cymru instead, Cymru am Byth being a classic phrase used a lot meaning Fellow Countrymen Forever.

[@reactingtomyroots]

That's just awful! I'm glad things have changed a bit, though I'm sure there's still room for improvement.

[@djs98blue]

@@reactingtomyroots Things have improved but anti-welsh sentiment still exists in England. It's a while ago now but I went to school on the border in Gloucestershire and a few of my friends were Welsh and they suffered a lot of sheep-themed 'jokes' and physical bullying etc. I was similarly teased for going to university in Aberystwyth which I hugely enjoyed. But yes things have changed ..... the Castles once built to subdue Wales by Edward I are attracting a lot of tourists to enjoy and invest in Cymru :)

[@markjones127]

@@reactingtomyroots The Welsh knot is long gone but only as far back as the 60's a village called Capel Celyn which was also a very important Welsh talking community was flooded to make a reservoir to supply Liverpool in England with water, it was done by act of parliament so the locals had no say and were forcibly evicted from their homes, to this day it's still a bone of contention for many.

[@GoldenKaos]

I mean, America has ongoing controversies with allowing certain ethnic and cultural types of hairstyling at this very moment. Darryl George was suspended for refusing to cut dreadlocks that were too long as recent as August of last year. And then there's the entire debacle about controlling what clothes people wear - namely laws against cross-dressing which are aimed to outlaw a wide range of personal presentation that don't fit neatly into established gender norms. Yeah, I can see that happening today in American culture.

[@mariahoulihan9483]

I read about that here in the UK. such ongoing harassment, and that young man looked very very smart with his dreadlocks pinned up for school too. That wouldn;t happen here in the uk. For instance, I was in the Police up to 20 years ago. Prior to that Sikh male officers did not have to wear the uniform hard helmet, part of the full uniform. This was because they had uncut long flowing hair which they tied up under a turban.. so the Service I was in created a blue turban in consultation with Sikh representatives. It bore the badge on the front and was very very smart. No problems. The Police adapted and did not demonise these officers for their religion and culture. We had prayer rooms which all denominations could use so officers could go there to pray during those times they had to. I know of Christian officers who had time off work to attend services on Sundays and if scheduled on duty. back to work afterwards. Obvoiusly, if an officer was right in the middle of something they did not just leave or go to prayer. It was pre arranged where it could be so this could happen so with permission but was may be last minute refused if practicable to what was going on at that moment. that was the agreement. Its so much easier to respect others and their ways and needs and facilitate it. its harming no one.

[@1justme]

​@@mariahoulihan9483Thank you for looking after us. 😊❤

[@kennethmclachlan9384]

To buy a full kilt outfit it normally costs from £1000 to £2000 depending where you buy it. A few years ago I bought my own made to measure but I already had the sporran and shoes and it costs just under £900. Only used for special occasions.

[@scotmark]

As a lowlander I've never worn the kilt, but I did once wear a cummerbund in my clan tartan with a tux at a formal event in Italy to represent my heritage... Fortunately I never had to use it as a tent. 😺

[@frankdoyle9066]

And guys, it's made from wool. We have a huge population of sheep in the UK because lamb is so popular as a meat in the UK, especially at Easter. And we produce some of the finest yarn in Europe.

[@dougoneill7266]

'Fandabidozi' In my opinion, the most interesting of all the people on KZbin dealing with traditional stuff. very interesting indeed.

[@traceys8065]

Yes he has a great wee channel

[@reactingtomyroots]

We really enjoyed the way he presented everything! :)

[@traceygilligan1201]

Great video, thanks for sharing this. I am in the Uk, and learning from this video too

[@ronspalding6946]

The great kilt was what was worn in the olden times and has become a lot simpler and more tailored for todays kilts. All the different Clans had different colours of tartan, my clan is Macleod.

[@gillianrimmer7733]

There was no such thing as clan tartans until Victorian times - it was invented. There were a few regional differences in patterns, but they didn't 'belong' to any clan - neither were there as many clans as there are nowadays. Nor everyone in Scotland belonged to a clan.

[@AngelaVara-i4l]

There are a few things back in the day that were better than what we have now. I wish we could time travel.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Same here!

[@jaysmith8199]

I have a winter coat that is made from tin cloth. Its 100% cotton and is waterproof. Not only does it look good, its breathable and the company I bought it from sourced the cotton ethically. The company is called Seasalt and do fab clothes.

[@buidseach]

My Great Grandparents were native Gaelic speakers and along with the Tartan and the kilt, speaking Scottish Gaelic was banned in schools and almost anywhere outside in public to try and destroy the Scottish Clan culture.

[@straycat1674]

If you really want to learn a lot more check out the Kelton culture KZbin channel. The first Friday of every month unless something comes up, they do a multi hour long Q&A. History fashion you name it whatever question people have waiting to the Kilts or Celtic culture, not just Scottish, they’ll try to answer.

[@Matt-lg1te]

It happened with the native American in the US not to long ago and put on reservations....

[@TheresaThomson-c6t]

This is not a kilt in the modern day sense. This is the original way a kilt was used in the Highlands as you see for survival. The people walked every where and as the terrain was very rough it could take days to get where they were going. The modern day kilts have the pleats sewn in place and a belt to keep it on. Although there are still Scotsmen who wear the kilt everyday, my niece's husband being one, they are mostly used for weddings or special events. Making a kilt takes a lot of experience learned over years. There are also hundreds of different tartans including ones for counties outside Scotland. Hope this comment is helpful. 🤗 I am a Scot who lives in Scotland! Best wishes to all the family!😊

[@rickycassidy]

Irish and Scottish are very similar people like brothers

[@Caambrinus]

Irishmen probably did wear kilts in the 16th century, but they're not worn today. You might see them worn by the pipe-bands of Irish units in the British army, but that was a fad brought in by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in the 19th century. Your library supervisor was exploiting American ignorance or having a laugh, or both!

[@gallowglass2630]

there is evidence that it was ever worn in ireland except by scottish mercenaries

[@Phraeyah]

Scotland is mostly snow and rain, they have crazy weather! The wool is probably only that fire retardant because it's so densely woven, please don't try that on your favourite jumpers 😅 thanks for another great video

[@stevester]

Not really. West coast tends to be wetter. Real snow only in the very North. Fairly mild winters. Many US States and Canada have much 'crazier' weather.

[@ritaboes]

😢i wish i could crochet or knit with wool but i'm allergic so thats a bummer. Here in the Netherlands there are farmers giving shavings away bc selling doesn't work. I can't even work with fluffy acrylic 😢. So no cheating for me.

[@EnigmaStar153]

Would Steve be a real Scotsman and wear no underwear under his kilt ? 😮😂 Scotland

[@Mark-Haddow]

The origin of wearing nothing comes from the inability to fight in a "Great Kilt." Scots would strip from the waste down when charging into battle, reducing the risk of heat exhaustion. Underwear wasn't a necessity. A loincloth would have clashed anyway.

[@chucky2316]

And Mel Gibson rubbed magic cream all over their arrrshhhes

[@kriegaffe10]

​@@Mark-Haddow I have experience (fake) fighting in them. I've worked with a Scottish charity for 28 years who do swordfighting to raise funds. They're pretty easy to fight in, easier than trousers from the same period and it feels good when they swish about. I absolutely agree with the heat exhaustion though. Probably the reason they'd take them off. They also would wear long shirts and tie the front and back between their legs. Don't know where the no underwear tradition comes from

[@Lucien234-i2z]

You can see now why us Scots get angry when Americans say it's a skirt

[@RevPeterTrabaris]

Wow! Now that was a valuable education. Thank for reviewing this. Peace

[@michaelmccann-5958]

The modern kilt was made for americans,who did'nt know how to wear the great kilt

[@TerryD15]

But the bans did happen in recent American history, especially during the repression of the native inhabitants- the First Nations, even in the early part of last Century. But glad you enjoyed the vodeo.

[@sharonmartin4036]

The Industrial Revolution was the cause of many new things and the loss (unfortunately) of the knowledge surrounding the creation and uses of the old things.

[@101steel4]

You need to start eating lamb in America. Not only is it delicious, but you'll have wool too .

[@chucky2316]

I met two scotch guys that were wearing kilts, there names were ben doon and phil mckraken

[@teaurn]

Are you sure it wasn't Phil MacAvity?

[@101steel4]

😂😂😂

[@Max-admin]

We're they with Pat McGroin?

[@angelataylor2049]

It’s Scottish not scotch…that’s whisky!

[@chucky2316]

😂😂

[@MexieMex]

The point about banning an item of clothing because they don't like something about you not being possible today. Just look at all the people trying to ban MAGA hats because they don't like what the people wearing them think. I'm not saying anything about the politics of either side, just pointing out an item of clothing getting band due to who wears it isn't as removed from modern life as you think.

[@KSmeaton1]

I didn't know the Irish wore them too. I thought it was a Scottish thing. Learn a new thing every day 😅❤

[@stevester]

Perhaps some Irish with Scottish links/surname will wear one at a wedding etc but that's about it. Very much a Scottish thing.

[@sarahealey1780]

Banning peoples cultural dress is still happening in both the UK and the US right now. There are lots of conversations going on about Burkhs and Hijabs and if they should be allowed to be worn.

[@germankitty]

Men in Scotland will wear their kilts like others may wear jeans -- it's pretty much a workhorse garment for all occasions.

[@sirderam1]

Em, no, it isn't. Men in Scotland, generally speaking, rarely wear kilts except on special occasions - and not always even then. Are you actually Scottish?

[@germankitty]

@@sirderam1 No, I'm not, but I saw it several times on Skye. Although, come to think of it, possibly it may have been something they did for tourists?

[@sirderam1]

@@germankitty Thank you for the courteous reply. Yes, on Skye it is most likely to be for the tourists. There are a few people who will wear kilts routinely but they are very much the exception. Generally, the most common reason for wearing a kilt is when attending a wedding. The one and only time I have worn a kilt was for my daughter's wedding a few years ago. Most men in Scotland could probably count the number of times they have worn a kilt in their lives on the fingers of one hand.

[@martinsear5470]

Thank you for reacting to a Scot talking about kilts, too many American reaction channels only use videos made by Americans. Generally its better to react to someone from the original country talking about these things. Keep up the good work folks.

[@reactingtomyroots]

We try, although it isn't always possible. But it's definitely what we prefer!

[@Irene-Donald]

I’m Scottish and love the kilt, I bought my husband a full kilt outfit for a birthday. It is a beautiful thing to see. There is nothing like seeing a man in a full kilt outfit. More manly than a suit.

[@lulusbackintown1478]

I completely agree. There's something very masculine about a man in a kilt. My P.E. skirt at school was in the style of a kilt and was very easy to move in. I loved it.

[@traceys8065]

Yay uou're doing a Fandbi Dozi video😊 He makes great content and I've saw a lot of his stuff. The kilt originated here in Scotland in the 16th century though now other nationalities wear one. The original, the longer version as seen in the vidoe is the great kilt, the Scots gaelic name for it is the feileadh mor. It's a fascinating piece of clothing and was so versatile. The kilts you see today are the modern kilt, a shorter version and comes in hundreds of tartans and also plain Fun fact, his channel name, Fandabi Dozi is named after a Scottish comedy duo the Krankies who's catchphrase was Fandabi Dozi 😂 Love from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿♥️

[@reactingtomyroots]

Appreciate the insight! This video was really interesting and he did a great job of presenting it all.

[@traceys8065]

@@reactingtomyroots Yes I agree, it was very interesting and thank you Steve for reacting to my culture 🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@tonys1636]

There is some debate about the exact origin but all agree on ancient Gaelic but as to where is the debate, Ireland or Scotland even other Gaelic people from Europe. They are very similar to the much lighter ancient Greek and Roman clothing.

[@traceys8065]

@@tonys1636 There's no debate at all. It's Scottish 😂

[@sharonmartin4036]

A Man's kilt weighs between 3.5 to 5 pounds depending on the fabric. The Great kilt is usually around 5 to 7 pounds in weight. A ladies kilt is normally between 2 to 3 pounds in weight.

[@WijaLE]

You guys should also react to the history / manufacture of barbour wax jackets - they are quintessential in the UK and all natural too!!!

[@sandrapreston12393]

Wax Jackets are really tricky to make. 1 needle hole over & it was scrapped!! That used to be my job in the late 80s for a company called Snowgoose. We made the jackets for the Royal Family and Princess Anne used to come by & watch us making them. That was my 5 mins of fame 😅 We also made all the padded waterproof jackets for Sky Sports when in first launched & Bill Beaumant used to pick them up & my mum took a fancy for him lol! X

[@WijaLE]

Wow! I only own one and dread to think how finnicky it would be to make! So cool that you met Princess Anne there too!@@sandrapreston12393

[@andrewobrien6671]

What a great video! My Grandfather (A Gordon Highlander) fought through WW1 and and as a POW in a kilt and my mother was buried in his kilt. Amazing, given the conditions. The Germans used to call the Scottish regiments, who were notoriously fierce "Devils in skirts". So when you mix that with the bagpipes as they went over the top, would frighten anyone

[@kirsteneasdale5707]

My maternal grandfather was a piper in the Highland Light Infantry during the First World War. He had no weapon except for his pipes and was injured at Gallipoli and discharged from the army in 1915.

[@lesleyriseam1282]

I live in Lowland Scotland and there is a mountain rescue team in the village . The number of times people set out into nature with the wrong clothing and the weather turns on the hills . People end up being rescued , wearing flip flops and shorts . No map and no other clothing . Its possible to get hypothermia out on these hill . It is even worse further North in the Highlands where the Mountains are higher and colder.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Yikes!

[@weejackrussell]

People go walking in prepared in the Peak District too. Not in Scotland but still very exposed to changeable weather

[@emmsue1053]

Lindsay is right about the culture thing. Clever!! Learned loads from this, thank you.

[@russellfrancis6294]

I learned a lot too.

[@paganoutdoors3193]

This bloke is amazing, look up some of his other videos, he does multi day trips in Scotland etc with just this item, plus other historical bits, it's amazing, plus the use of a staff as a weapon/and how they do it, is incredibly..

[@reactingtomyroots]

I'm sure we will!

[@BlueShadow777]

The modern kilt: Invented by an Englishman The Bank of England: Founded by a Scotsman The Royal Bank of Scotland: Founded by an Englishman …it’s all screwed up.

[@Mark-Haddow]

The Bank of France, also founded by a Scotsman. The Royal Bank of Scotland, isn't Scots, but rather a union created Bank, an alternative to the Bank of Scotland, which backed the Jacobites.

[@BlueShadow777]

@@Mark-Haddow Interesting. I’ve corrected my error, thanks.

[@Mark-Haddow]

@BlueShadow777 Your original text was correct. I was adding to it. The Royal Banlk of Scotland was founded by Union supporters from Scotland & England. Its HQ is in London, making it actually an English business. The Bank of Scotland is entirely a Scottish company. If you remember, when the banks were bailed out, it was suggested that the Royal Bank of Scotland was Scottish.

[@traceys8065]

The modern kilt came from the great kilt, its just a shorter version, both are Scottish

[@NauiByeolEge]

The plaid and kils weren't the only cultural things banned. Gaelic was still banned in schools in Scotland until late in the 20th century. There are living folk here who remember being punished for speaking Gaelic on school grounds, A retired friend of mine was raised speaking Gaelic, and didn't know English until she went to school. Now, she has no Gaelic left because education was only available in English. It's nice to see folks taking an interest in the culture. It's not suprising the fèileadh-mòr is so versatile as Scottish folk are canny inventors.

[@gillianrimmer7733]

Being taught in English resulted in being bi-lingual. People were still speaking their native language at home and outside of school. Are you suggesting that she somehow forgot how to speak to her family because she had to speak another language at school? My grandchildren attend a Welsh medium school in Wales - they speak Welsh in school and English at home - they are just bi-lingual. They haven't lost their English.

[@gallowglass2630]

Irish people don't wear kilts no more than they wear loderhosen,they are a few eccentrics but its not near what its likev in scotland where iys formal wear for weddings graduations but not in ireland

[@hoppahoppa-yf2pi]

Hello from France I would not wear a kilt but in France they have tartan Parten on material on bag pipes that are played in the Brittany area of France and the French navy band play the bag pipes the Brittany bag pipes. that has that Scottish influence and type material. Merci, Jean-Marc

[@belindakennedy5828]

The auld alliance between france and Scotland against the English,the scots fought in France with the French against the English back in the day but as usual Scotland was betrayed let down by the French.

[@bill-wd7zs]

Quite a few countries around the world including several in Europe have banned clothing that covers the face. This has mainly had an effect on the those wishing to wear a burqa.

[@Russ_Keith]

Hi. i'm 74, Scottish and I began to wear a kilt on a daily basis about 25 years ago when the need to look cool became less important to me. It is comfortable and suitable for most conditions and it never goes out of date. My surname has it's own tartan (Keith) and it is a bright, summery blend of colours. Quite beautiful actually. But I don't like wearing bright patterns so I began to wear the American style utility kilts which are plain coloured with no pattern. Utility kilts also have pockets in the sides and back which, along with the sporran _(great for keys, wallet and phones etc. and you would know quite quickly if someone was trying to pick your pocket because of where it hangs)_ fulfills my pocket needs. They also have various hooks and things around the waist for tradesmen to hang their tools while working. Being a person of function over style, it suits me perfectly. Also I don't feel the need to conform to the standard of what should be worn with the traditional kilt. I wear a kilt pin to close it at the front, particularly on windy days, for modesty. And in case you are pondering the old question - "What is worn under the kilt", the answer is "Nothing. It's all in good working order". Or at least it was. As I said I'm 74 so not as confident in that answer as I once was. I've learned quite a few things about my own country (UK) and yours through watching your videos and also remembered some I'd forgotten. Keep it up. I'll continue watching.

[@lynndally9160]

Not only were we banned from wearing the kilt but also from speaking our native tongue. I'm from Clan MacNicol. The main difference between the Scottish Kilt and the Irish Kilt is, ours are Tartan and the Irish is a solid colour - usually orange, beige or black

[@suerogerts4330]

I think the kilt is actually a Celtic form of dress Scotland Ireland Wales and Cornwall have kilts mine a Cornish woman would be black and gold 😮😮😮😮😮xx

[@Millennial_Manc]

Plus the Isle of Man

[@traceys8065]

It originated in Scotland

[@joannecunliffe8067]

Completely agree with Lindsey - I can absolutely see people wanting to ban what you wear or telling you what you should be or what you SHOULD wear especially now. You've seen what I look like in the letter ... have a think about that. I don't need to say any more, do I? My original family name (which I won't name here) is related to the Coburn Clan (and my family originates from Scotland) so yeah, I have a tartan. I have worn clan coloured clothing myself. As a child I did Ceilidh dancing (a bit like country sequence dancing but to folk music). It's inspired me - I'll have to get myself a tartan skirt! The Borderlands (around Northumberland) are interesting as well. Look up Kielder Valley (and rally!).

[@Rachel_M_]

Sheep and lamb make up less than 1% of US livestock market with 5.2 million sheep, mostly in Texas and california. We have over 11 million sheep in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿....

[@terryloveuk]

Yep, more sheep than people there in Wales. Wasn't the Scottish highland clearances due in part so the land owners had more land for sheep for wool?

[@mariahoulihan9483]

and one of my favourite memories of Wales was my Granny in the 1960s chasing them down the street after they had knocked over her dustbin and rooting through it.. ashes and veg peelings everywhere, lol. She was joined by several equally irate ladies weilding outside brooms. Mams were outraged and the sheep got away scot free. lol. I was 7.. 60 years ago. I still giggle at the memory. lol. I had a birds eye view from an upstairs bedroom window. When she came in and I came down for breakfast I innocently told her I had seen them arrive and do it.. she asked why i did';t tell her to stop them making the mess worse. I had lived in Aden and it was a common sight to see goats into everything out there.. so I thought it was what happened.. Well it was what happened but still . ....I should have spoken up sooner.. She never did connect with one with her broom so no sheep injured as a result.. it was just the spectacle of them shouting at sheep and chasing them off en masse. lol. She had worked as the housekeeper to an elderly shepherd before she married and she and my grandfather lived with him after marriage in 1920.. My uncle and Mother were born in that house. so she did know a thing or two about sheep. lol.

[@DougBrown-h1n]

15.37 - I could just imagine Lindsay struggling across the heather strewn Scottish moorland with her neatly folded, vacuum packed plaid in a wheelie suitcase!

[@reactingtomyroots]

😂 She had a change of heart and said she'd just wear it to save space!

[@janpenaluna5639]

Recently there has been a surge in identifying with Celtic, specifically Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, history and Nationality and Culture. We all have our Tartans. Cornwall's is, mostly, yellow, black and white. Each colour having meaning to the Cornish. We, the men, also wear a kilt. Cornish men are often married in full regalia. Ladies wear the tartan,too. 😊👍

[@markjones127]

Wool has had a resurgence in the outdoor community in recent decades, as merino wool base layers have become more popular than synthetic ones, merino wool regulates heat better, keeps most of it's thermal properties when wet (unlike cotton), breathes naturally and most importantly for long hikes, it's highly odour resistant, whereas synthetic fabrics tend to get very smelly very quickly. During the 18th Century; Spain had herds of Merino sheep which were so highly prized across Europe, that the export of these sheep was banned and punishable by death, that's how important wool was to our ancestors. I'm a wild camper so am aware of the basic survival knowledge he discusses, I use wool base layers, sock, gloves, buffs and hats all the time but as far as mid and outer layers go wool is just too heavy and bulky when doing long hikes these days, and these layers have been surpassed by fleece, down and wind/waterproof layers. For modern day ultralight camping we use tarps or bivvy bags which are basically synthetic great kilts, but they are a fraction of the weight and bulk of wool. This is a great video though and I'm definitely tempted to get a great kilt to play with on shorter trips.

[@sjbict]

Price on wool market for Just sheared fleece on 6th Feb 2024 was 87p a Kilo although a farmer told me, he was offered 60p each fleece last week.

[@weejackrussell]

But those selling the end product e.g. a jumper will charge a fortune.

[@TanyaRando]

We have millions of sheep so getting 100% wool isn't hard.

[@panchomcsporran2083]

Lightweight tartan 10-11oz (per yard) Medium 12-13 oz Heavy 15-16 oz With the great kilt being between 5-8 yards

[@stelsewhere11]

The Kilt is an English fashion accessory invented by an English Quaker in the 17th century travelling through Scotland and trying to fit in with the locals. The Plaid or Great Kilt was an absolute necessity for Scottish people to wear while traveling.. The Plaid is thousands of years old. Morocco has a two-thousand-year-old statue of a Scottish warrior wearing the Plaid.

[@dianeknight4839]

I know this young man. The kilt he is showing is the original. Modern kilts are still 100% wool, but the pleats are sewn in and the kilt fastens with a leather strap and buckle at the waist. Also today's clan tartans are a Victorian invention. There are many kilt manufacturers in Scotland and also shops selling kilts off the peg. They are still quite heavy, it is what gives it the swing. Mostly worn at Weddings these days. However the further North you go in Scotland, you are more likely to see people wear one every day or on Sunday. A good kilt will set you back around $800 to $1000. Then you need the jacket,shirt, socks and shoes. Not much change out of $2000.

[@Bazk01]

This is one of the best videos on the historical Great Kilt and he's great at explaining why it was in use. It was a part of our culture that the English and the remaining Scottish nobility tried to stamp out, along with our rights, our language, and family ties. They did a better job of it here than they managed in Ireland. Many people today are staunchly unionist and proud to be British. (Look up the sixth verse of the British national anthem. It'll give you some idea why we sing "flower of Scotland" instead and Wales and Northern Ireland have their own anthems to sing at national events.) It was in the great Scottish renaissance that they tried to bring a twee version of this culture back. It was the Scottish nobility like Sir Walter Scott and the new wealthy upper class who reinvented and romanticized our culture to play up to the English and the Hanoverian monarch back in the 1820's. It was a fashionable fad for a time and up until recently it's what they taught us in school. This is when you see tartans start to be associated with clans - there was a big scandal were Italian brothers claimed to be exiled Scots nobility and sold off a book of tartan family designs from the Jacobite's that was whole fiction. The small kilt was supposedly designed by an English blacksmith to let people work safely in a forge. It was taken up by the nobility from the military because it was in fashion at the time and easy to wear. That's why it became our national dress clothing. The kilt has to be fitted to you and the pleats are now sown in along with a couple of integral small belts and buckles to secure it. The kilt pin now secures the front flap at your knee as there is no cloak section to go across your shoulder. The pockets are replaced by a pouch that dangles over the front of your kilt and is called a sporran. It's essentially a leather purse with some animal fur on the front that dangles from a belt or chain that goes round your waist under your belt. Knee high folded socks are worn with a garter flash and black shoes. A Sgian-Dubh is a small spear pointed knife that gets pushed behind the garter flash on one leg. (Mostly this is traditional and the blades are not sharpened anymore, but are blunt blanks.) From the waist up - there's a multitude of fashions to choose from. It's part of most dress uniforms here, I even wore it weekly as a kid when I was a boy scout. It's mostly worn at Graduations, Christenings, Weddings, and so on. You have to remember this revival was happening while the clearances where still ongoing. They ran from 1750 to 1850 and now three quarters of Scotland is given over to Sheep and Hunting preserves for the nobility/wealthy. 60% of rural land in Scotland is still held by these people. 70% of Scotland's reduced population lives along the central belt. Vast tracks of the Highlands and Islands are now empty of people. That's why we have large communities of people in America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many other former British colonies who claim Scottish descent.

[@sjbict]

They tried stamping out the Welsh Language and culture over the centuries too.

[@MAB_Canada]

Today some governments do actually ban some specific cultural clothing…Muslim women wearing an hijab (headscarf), indigenous women wearing ribbon skirts. In Quebec they have banned the wearing of religious symbols in public jobs, like teachers, judges,etc.…so no turbans, hijabs, etc.

[@MexieMex]

I'm a Scotsman, and not only do both us and the Irish wear kilts. so do the Cornish down in the Southwest of England.

[@weeneeps]

What he didn't mention is the fact that a kilt only hangs above the knee means that when you're walking though long grass, heather or bracken it doesn't get wet like trousers would.

[@ShaneGilbert-cx4th]

Hi ALL, I found this youtube channel ,the magic greekdom )I found there youtube ,exploring coventry ,England. The underrated city you need to visit /staying over night in a historic gate : is this the UK's unique airbab? I ALso found Warwick town in /England -tour part 1 by the night warker . My grandma had 3 tartons to her name . And my mum made my brother a kilt when it was my auntie's wedding .Take care and all the best.

[@Caambrinus]

The 'feileadh mòr' ('great kilt) is what is described at the start of the video. The modern dress kilt is the 'feileadh beag ('small kilt).

[@sueKay]

I'm Scottish and I learned a lot from this video! I do love a kilt and wish men would wear them more!! They did a lot to stamp out all Celtic culture in the British Isles, be that culture Scottish, Irish or Welsh. It did a lot of damage but our culture has still survived.

[@peterbrown1012]

If you watch the massed bands of the foot guards, at the back are piper's, half are from the Scots Guards wearing tartan kilts and half from the Irish Guards wearing a green kilt.

[@sirderam1]

Not green, but plain, unpatterned, saffron coloured.

[@peterbrown1012]

@@sirderam1 I stand corrected

[@simonmilne8208]

Jacobites & the Highlander's last battle was heavily romanticised by the Victorians. Wallace monument is a great example of that.

[@VeritySnatch]

no idea how they dealt with the midgies in a kilt

[@Mark-Haddow]

They avoided them.

[@VeritySnatch]

explain please. i live in the Highlands. there is no avoiding them @@Mark-Haddow

[@Mark-Haddow]

@@VeritySnatch The Midge isn't exclusive to the Highlands, and they are easily avoided.

[@VeritySnatch]

explain HOW@@Mark-Haddow

[@daviddowning8411]

I think you’d be interested in looking at British customs and the 5-10 rules of etiquette. It’s classed as very bad manners to wear a hat indoors, why would you need to in your own home and especially in a restaurant. Also at one time a man would open a door for a woman and let her in first and ask her which seat she would like. These days the younger generation barge in and grab the seat at table they fancy without considering if she would like to sit away from the main door or toilet entrance. As an older generation person, these simple things made such a difference in polite society.

[@BlueShadow777]

The kilt is typically Scottish. Irish kilt-wearing is *rarely* considered.

[@101steel4]

Americans seem to have totally lost their European identity. European history should be a standard part of school history lessons.

[@101steel4]

So an American bloke who thinks he's Irish, was walking about in a kilt. Was it joe biden?😂

[@Mark-Haddow]

Unlike the American former President who wears diapers, who thinks he's Scottish.

[@jameslewis2635]

Historical cloaks were also extremely practical for survival. Shadiversity has a pretty good video on that subject featuring Living Anachronism. Another thing you can do with things like woolen cloth is to wax said cloth in order to increase its ability to shake off water.

[@louisemiller4970]

Most Scotman at wedding etc wear a dress kilt, tge great kilt is what you would see wirn in Outlander as it was multifunctional ( as you have just learned)

[@Jellyforge]

American here who has travelled to Scotland fell in love with it and has deep dived into its history and appreciations of the cultures and landscapes. I also found Fandabi Dozi’s videos and knew I needed a Great Kilt once I realized they were a thing. I bought a great kilt (Scottish made pure wool MacKenzie Hunting tartan) early this year and it’s one of my favorite possessions. I wear it around the house when I work from home sometimes, I’ve practiced HEMA drills in it, worn it to Ren Fairs, will wear it for Halloween. It’s just fun to wear. I did not get cheater pleats put in bc I really wanted to experience the authenticity of it and yes it’s tedious but i still like it. It really is wonderfully versatile and can’t wait to test how warm it can be this winter.

[@CatherineReilly-h4p]

The short kilts are their dress ones for special occasions the one yer man is wearing is used for every day wear

[@Sarahj-ho1jx]

My nan was born in Canada in the early 1900s, her dad had a farmstead that he built, he built everything by hand. I wish he was still alive when I was little, but learning from my nan was fascinating

[@helenroberts1107]

When I was little we went to the Highland Games. A man in a kilt was tossing the caber (a tree trunk), and his kilt fell off so we always say men wear purple underpants under their kilts…… luckily 😂

[@reactingtomyroots]

😂

[@fraserhorne2060]

After the jacobite failure, the british banned not only the wearing of tartan but also the gaelic language, which on my fathers side still speaks

[@AC-um2mk]

There was also a time when the name McGregor was banned.

[@Lovelee123]

I think this video demonstrates the reason for it well. People tend to think of bright red tartan but as we see back then it tended to be more muted colours and was great camouflage. It wasn’t simply about crushing a culture, it was to prevent attacks. How easy would it be for them to make surprised attacks hidden by their camouflaged kilts along the side of isolated roads.

[@artemisfowl66]

At some point they banned the playing of the pipes too. I think at the same time they banned the wearing of the tartan

[@101steel4]

The British?

[@artemisfowl66]

@@101steel4 To be precise the English. Not our proudest moment

[@karenholligan3045]

Please do a reaction video to the movie Braveheart , from an Irish cailín(girl)mná/bean(woman)☘️ Re Braveheart...FREEDOM (SAOIRSE) also a girls name..

[@brackalack1]

Love this guy, his channel is pretty interesting. Plaids are amazingly versatile ❤

[@LastEuropaKiss]

Kilts today ARE skirts. Skirt comes from Old Norse and means a long shirt that hangs over the thighs/the knees, a modern Kilt looks like someone is wearing one of these "skirts". Great Kilts are more a cloak worn over other clothing, and wrapped around you in different ways.

[@LastEuropaKiss]

Up until relatively recently (17/1800s) most men in Europe wore what would be considered a skirt (tunics and such) so I'm not saying this "negatively" just that, by definition, the modern Kilt is a "skirt"

[@BrapMan]

Can you imagine people being banned from wearing traditional drress today? Well, although I know it is done to help liberate women, but banning the burka is probably felt like a ban on culture to those who wish to wear one

[@BogusDudeGW]

In warmer climates you have the turban that pretty much does the same thing. One thing not mentioned. If you were to die far away from home they would be used to wrap your body to either be buried in or transported home.

[@outlawking4106]

When the Kilt was outlawed, anyone caught wearing them would be sentenced to upto 7years imprisonment in different countries within the British empire such as Jamaica and that’s one of the reasons the Jamaican flag is based on the Scottish flag 🇯🇲 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@melbeasley9762]

The Welsh and Cornish also have kilts. I wear a Welsh cilt.

[@WilliamColby-kc3kr]

I found it is the Celtic people. I can't remember the source but there are Roman writings talking about the Germanic Celtes wearing blankets belted around their body. Probably like the great kilt. The colors would come from the dye lots that would have been in the area from where the clans came from. If you look at the migration patterns of the clans and the changes in the tartan.

[@russellfrancis6294]

I didn't know about the great kilt. I did enjoy this, I may watch this again, I didn't know a kilt served that many functions !

[@reactingtomyroots]

Same here! It was really eye opening.

[@russellfrancis6294]

Although I live in Scotland, I am English. So this was new to me. I do hope you come to Scotland one day it would be a pleasure to meet you !