Kilt Dance

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Words 'Scotland' and 'dance' for many immediately conjure up mental pictures of swinging kilts. These aren't just cliches: since the 18th century, dance has always had an important place at all levels of Scottish society and even today, it is still very much a living tradition.

There are generally three different styles of Scottish traditional dance: ceilidh dancing, country dancing and Highland dancing

The first one is the most accessible form of our traditional dancing. The basic dances are all fairly easy to master, are few in number and comprise mostly round-the-room and set dances. The emphasis is firmly on having fun and being sociable - there is none of the regulation and competition that marks the other forms of traditional dance and the dress-code is invariably 'come-as-you-are'. Key ingredients of a good ceilidh include enthusiasm, a good band, and usually - but not essentially - drink. Ceilidh dancing is taught to schoolkids across the country so most Scots grow up with it, which is no doubt why it's a regular feature of weddings and other social gatherings, such as Burns Suppers. In the past decade or so, however, Glasgow and Edinburgh have witnessed an explosion in the ceilidh's popularity as a weekend entertainment and have seen a number of ceilidh clubs emerge.

The next one - Scottish country dancing is much more organised affair than ceilidh dancing. The dances involve combinations of up to five couples, usually arranged in lines facing each other or in squares, moving through a repeating series of prescribed steps and movements which eventually ends with all the dancers back in their original formation. Individual dances - of which there are literally thousands, with new ones being created all the time - are often quite intricate and require a fair degree of technique, mobility and grace.

Unlike the freeform ceilidh dancing, this dancing is strictly regulated and standardised. Under the gaze of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, the form and movements of each dance are agreed and published so that its 25,000 members across the globe learns the authorised version. While this may stifle individual creativity, it does allow people to come together from all over the world and enjoy the common language of dance. It is important to have a proper uniform, that migh also improve a self confidence, especially for beginners. The easy way of having a nice suit is a kilt hire.
In contrast to ceilidh and country dancing, Highland dancing is performed competitively, usually by youngsters. The dances are mostly solo performances, where the emphasis is on the precise execution of intricate footwork. The standard of competitive performance is very high and thanks to a number of regulatory bodies in different countries, competitions often have an intenational flavour.

By: Caroline Anderson

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Scottish Weddings – What Does The Groom Wear?

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Prince Charlie Coatee And Vest

This is one of the most formal jackets in the highland-wear armoury. It consists of a jacket and vest (waistcoat) which are usually made from Barathea, a woollen cloth. The jacket is most commonly black but there are several other colours now on the market including purple, blue, mulberry and green. The jacket is cut to just below the “natural waist” at the front and has a flap at the back which extends down to around the top of the buttocks. The vest is also made of Barathea and is often cut with a lapel instead of a straight edge. The jacket and waistcoat are adorned with silver buttons with there being up to 20 buttons on the jacket and three on the vest. The jackets lapels are often made in a satin finish.

There are various theories where this garment came from but there is no doubt that Bonnie Prince Charlie would never have worn one. It would be prudent to believe there was some military background to it.

Winged Collared Shirt
With this formal wear it is traditional to wear a winged-collared shirt. Some people nowadays do wear an ordinary shirt but for the sake of looking better a winged collared shirt is better.

Bow-Tie
It is most common for a black bow-tie to be worn although it is becoming more common for the groom to wear a bow-tie made form the same tartan that his kilt is.

Plaid
There is sometimes a lot of confusion with this garment. The dictionary definitions give it as “fabric woven in a pattern or tartan design”. It is very commonly used in North America as another word for tartan. The definition of the garment is from the Gaelic word “plaide” meaning “blanket”. This is the piece of cloth that you can see hanging over the left shoulder in the picture on the right. In my opinion this is a must as it sets the groom apart from the rest of the male wedding party.

The plaid that you can see is called a fly plaid and generally hangs from around the chest area to just below the kilt. It is a piece of cloth that is generally around 12” x 55” (depending on kilt-maker). You can wear larger plaid (like I did), for instance the pipers plaid (like I did) but this is not recommended personally on a hot July day !!!

Plaid Brooch
This is the metal (usually pewter) brooch that attaches the plaid to the jacket. They come in many shapes and sizes from the very simple to the very ornate with gems, sometimes actual Cairngorms, in the centre.

Heather Button Hole
The groom often wears a heather button hole which is usually placed just to the side of the plaid brooch.

Kilt Belt & Buckle
Traditionally when wearing the Prince Charlie jacket and vest there is no belt and buckle worn as they really can’t be seen. The jacket and vest come lower than the natural waist and therefore cover the belt which is worn at the natural waist. The natural waist is best described as a line through the belly button.

In more modern times people are tending to wear a belt and buckle with the Prince Charlie. My personal opinion for this is so that the jacket and vest can be removed later in the proceedings after all the official ceremony is finished.

Sporran
This comes from the Gaelic word “sporran” meaning “purse”. There are several types of sporran, dress, semi-dress and day/leather sporran. In this case the groom would wear the most formal, that being dress. These are more widely varied than tartans themselves. They are made from an animal skin front (most commonly sealskin) which have ornamental tassels hanging from it. They have a metal top (cantle) designed to tie in with any belt worn. The sporran is hung around the natural waist by means of a metal chain and leather straps with the chain passing through the belt loops at the back of the kilt.

The Kilt
Arguably the most important garment of them all. The kilt is traditionally made of about 8 yards of tartan cloth that why they are so expensive. When you consider that there is only about two yards that actually wrap around you then there is about 6 yards of the cloth that is used fro the pleating at the back.
The kilt is worn around the “natural” waist. This is not where you would wear a pair of trousers (on top of the hips). This is around the belly button, about 2 to three inches higher up than normal trousers. It is worn about ¼” below the top of the knee.
A standard kilt from a good kilt-maker will have belt loops at the back, and come with three straps an buckles which are the means that it is put on. They also come in different weights of cloth. I would tend to choose the heavier ones as they are better wearing but for those in hotter climates the lighter weight may be better.
There are many kilts on the market today with some kilts, commonly known a casual kilts, made from much less cloth. These do not have the same amount or depth of pleats at the back so you do not get the “swing” that the traditional kilts get. There are many kilts that are now made in the Far East. I will keep my opinions to myself but the old adage stands firm. You get what you pay for beware!!
Remember also the tartan you wear may show your allegiances!!!!

Kilt Pin
This is a small pin that is worn on the bottom right of the kilt. It is usually worn about 2 to 3 inches in from the fringe and about 5 inches up from the bottom of the kilt.
There are a huge amount of designs available but my personal favourite is the ones in the shape of a sword (claymore) which was derived from the Gaelic word meaning “great sword”. These also have a clan crest on them.

Kilt Hose
These are the long socks that are worn up to the bottom of the knee. They again come in many designs from plain to very ornate. They are generally made from wool so beware when washing although there are now kilt hose that are made from wool blends that do not shrink.

Kilt Hose Flashes
These are the garters that hold up the kilt hose and are worn below the turn up of the sock. They have a piece of cloth sewn on them which protrude out of the turn up on the sock. This cloth can be of the same tartan as the kilt or they can be self coloured as long as they compliment the tartan of the kilt.

Sgian Dubh
The Scotmans’ dirk. This comes from the Gaelic “black knife” and is worn in the right sock. Again ornamentally they come in many many styles with jewelled tops, with stag antler handles and many more.
Please check the law of the country that you are wearing it in. In Scotland the carrying of knives for no lawful purpose is illegal but gives an exemption for “ceremonial” knives.

Ghillie Brogues
These are the shoes with the long laces. The laces are crossed once over the foot, intertwined three times in front of the leg and tied in a bow over the shin.

Undergarments
The answer to the age old question, “What’s under a Scotsman’s kilt?” Well I guess you’ll have to ask the next Scotsman you see wearing a kilt !!

Well that about does it for a highland formal wedding outfit. Don’t hesitate to contact the author if there is anything that he could help with.

At any rate have a wonderful day at your ceremony!!!

By: Sreve Dickson

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Scottish Kilts from The Tartan Box

How To Sew A Kilt - Short Introduction

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Every real fun of Scottish culture should have at least one kilt in his collection. They are usually being bought in some good stores with that kind of garments. But what has a greater value to us than the stuff that we do by ourselves?

That's probably the most important reason to sew kilt not to buy it. It might be also a great hobby which takes quite a lot of time but gives satisfaction and a lot of joy. There are only 8 steps to do that and few things to have.

Things that you will surely need are (most of them obvious): time, needle, thread, straight pins, safety pins, tape measure, a large kilt pin, 2-3 leather straps and buckles, lots of tartan material and chalk. Optional but rather recommended to make work more pleasant and effective are: basting tape, sewing machine, lining material.

Before we start sewing we have to make a measurements. Important in this case are: waist, hips, and length. To obtain your waist measurement, simply wrap a tape measure around the narrowest part of your waist and note the measurement. Because of the amount of material that will thicken the top of the kilt, it is advised to add a few centimetres to the waist measurement to ensure that it won't become too tight.

While measuring hips, there is an opposite site – wrapping the tape measure around the widest part of your hips and seat and record the measurement. The hip measurement is the most essential of all Again, because the kilt pleats will make the material thicker, add a few centimetres to the measurement. As it comes to length kilts are traditionally worn to mid-kneecap length, but the more modern look is to have the kilt reach to just above the knee. An easy way to get a good kilt length is to kneel on the floor and measure from your waist to the floor. And you have your length!

As its only an introduction to sewing a kilt I must tell you that rest of activities you will need to do are: translating the numbers (it is the most complicated things to do, while you have to do a lot of math), cutting, forming the shape of the kilt, pleating, lining.

This article was to encourage sewing one or two scottish kilts - one for a friend. Cause when you do that it's just having a harris tweed jacket and ghillie brogues and you are ready to conquer the whole world! With faith in your heart, smile on your face and a self made kilt on your....

Examples of black kilt and tartan ones you can find at Highlandstore.com . Take a look what you can buy...or sew by yourself.

More about sewing kilts you can find at bbc.co.uk.

By: michal costaminnego

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Examples of black kilt and scottish kilts you can find at www.highlandstore.com. Take a look what you can buy...or sew by yourself.