The history of the Kilt

Today as my second blog for my topic, Scotland, I am going to write about kilts.

When did people start wearing kilts?

Kilts have been around since the early 16th century according to newspapers from around that time.

What is a kilt?

Kilts are usually made of a soft woollen cloth woven to look like the clan tartan. Each clan would have a different tartan, a bit like a family crest. About nine yards of cloth can go into a kilt sometimes! What we now think of as a kilt is really only the bottom half of the 'great kilt' which had an extra cloak on it which could be pulled up over your head to protect you from the rain or go over your shoulders to keep you warm.

When did people used to wear kilts?

Soldiers used to wear kilts for marching because the were very practical, warm and easy to move about in but they never wore them while fighting.

A description from 1746 states:

"The garb is certainly very loose, and fits men inured to it to go through great fatigues, to make very quick marches, to bear out against the inclemency of the weather, to wade through rivers, and shelter in huts, woods, and rocks upon occasion; which men dressed in the low country garb could not possibly endure."

They would take off their kilt for battle and fight in their war shirt, call a léine. This was before wearing them was banned by the English. After that they were only worn on special occasions.

Why and when were kilts banned?

Kilts were banned in 1746 by the English because they thought that they had complete power over the Scottish if they took away their right to wear kilts because wearing them was such a large part in their national pride. The English were afraid of the Scottish wearing tartan because it was such a large part of their loyalty to their Highland clan and their freedom as a country. The only time they would be allowed to wear kilts would be in the army. The penalties for breaking this law were very high. The penalty for the first time spotted wearing a kilt was six months in prison and the second was seven years shipped out to Australia (note: you probably wouldn’t be taken back after the sentence but just left in Australia.)

What is a sporran?

A sporran is a little bumbag-like pouch usually made out of leather or fur, which would be used like a wallet or pocket, since the kilt doesn't have pockets. A day sporran might be a simple pouch made of leather and a dress sporran might be much more decorated with silver trimming and fur or tassels. When the person wearing a sporran wants to play sports or drive or anything like that the sporran can just be slid around the waist into a more comfortable position

What are the accessories of a kilt?

Some of the main kilt accessories are the pin which is used to hold the kilt together and stop it from blowing up and the sgain dubh which is a single side blade kept in the sock while wearing a kilt.