The kilt as we know it, the pleated and belted skirt, is a recent creation, but there was the "great kilt" in ancient times, a very large tartan cloth wrapped around the body, belted, over the shoulder, it could be worn many ways, over the head to keep out rain, or like a cloak, or wrapped around oneself as a sort of sleeping bag, or down at the waist to expose the upper body. I've done research at the Scottish National Museum and library in Edinburgh, written articles for the Clan Ramsay Assn. of North America, the Clan Campbell Society USA and the Clan Campbell Society Australia, as well as being the secretary and newsletter editor for the Clan Ramsay Assn. of N. America for 10 years, and had a novel of historical fiction published that dealt with the Roman invasion of Scotland in 84AD.... Nancy ------- I was never lost, but I was bewildered once for three days. --Daniel Boone On Jan 23, 2007, at 5:29 PM, Douglas Deal wrote: > Some heritages have been around for a while. Others are invented to > serve present needs. All heritages, to remain vigorous, require > constant updating and upgrading. A favorite example of the > "invention of tradition" is the actual history of the Scottish > kilt--a relatively recent (late 18th century) garment invented for > Scots workers by an English Quaker industrialist. See the essay by > Hugh Trevor-Roper in the book Invention of Tradition (essays in > honor of Terrence Ranger). Sorry about the partial cite--I'm > working on memory here. > > Doug Deal > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the > instructions > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html