Kilt: why the Scots love to wear skirts
Kilt: why the Scots love to wear skirts

Video: Kilt: why the Scots love to wear skirts

Video: Kilt: why the Scots love to wear skirts
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The kilt is the national garment of the Scots
The kilt is the national garment of the Scots

The kilt is considered the national symbol of Scotland. He personifies the courage and bravery of the harsh highlanders. How a checkered kilt has gone from a necessary piece of clothing to a symbol of independence - further in the review.

Kilt is the national dress of the Scots
Kilt is the national dress of the Scots

It is believed that the kilt appeared in Scotland around the 7th century. In the village of Nigg there is a stone depicting a man in a kilt dating from this period. The first written mention of a men's skirt dates back to the 16th century. Bishop Leslie, in his reports to the Pope, wrote: “Their clothing is practical and great for battle. Everyone wears the same type of capes."

If you think about the humid climate of Scotland, then it becomes clear that wearing trousers was impractical in the highlands, as the feet quickly got wet. And in kilts, they quickly crossed the terrain, these clothes dried perfectly and were at night instead of a blanket. It should be noted that at first only the inhabitants of the mountainous regions of the country preferred a kilt to trousers.

How the kilt was put on
How the kilt was put on

There are two types of kilts: large and small. The first is a large woolen cloth that is draped around the waist, fastened with a belt and slung over the shoulder. The "lightweight" version of the kilt, that is, without the top, appeared in the 18th century, when an "extra" piece of fabric began to interfere with workers in production.

The word "kilt" itself is translated from Old Icelandic as "folded". It is made of tartan, a woolen fabric with colored intersecting lines forming the famous check. Each clan had its own kind of pattern on the fabric, which allowed residents to immediately determine where strangers came from.

In battles, the Scots could throw off their kilts for convenience
In battles, the Scots could throw off their kilts for convenience

By tradition, the highlanders went to war in kilts, but if necessary, they could take them off. In 1645, during the battle, the Scots threw off their skirts and defeated a two-times superior enemy (then there was no concept of underwear). It remains only to guess why the enemy fell: from the ferocity of the mountaineers or their appearance.

A curious picture about curious ladies and Scots
A curious picture about curious ladies and Scots
Sean Connery is a British actor of Scottish descent
Sean Connery is a British actor of Scottish descent

The kilt is also considered a symbol of freedom. In the 18th century, the British government stripped Scotland of independence and, among other things, obliged the population to wear trousers. The highlanders, in turn, continued to wear kilts, and they carried trousers with them stretched on sticks. Then the authorities even passed a law prohibiting the wearing of kilts. For disobedience, residents were threatened with 6 months' imprisonment, and for repeated - exile in a colony for 7 years. But it was not possible to expel everyone, and the highest circles of the nobility of Scotland continued to wear plaid vestments in protest. Today, the kilt is considered an integral part of the culture of Scotland, and its inhabitants are proud of this clothing and resent when a kilt is called a skirt.

The dress uniform of the Scots
The dress uniform of the Scots

Scotland is not only kilts and bagpipes, it is a country with a powerful culture, stunningly beautiful nature, magnificent sights, this is one of those places you will never regret visiting, but you will strive here again and again - 35 kinds of stunning beauty.

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