We've signed up for a 3 week tour across Europe which will also take us for 3 days to Scotland. My wife tells me that I must wear a kilt at all times in Scotland. Is she joking? or will I get fined if I don't? <BR> <BR>

And be sure you put your haggis in a tube. <BR> <BR>The worst offense is wearing a crispy pink running kilt.

I am told that Kilts are normally worn for formal engagements and there are special stores where they can be hired. I suspect that unless you would be meeting a representative of their legislature e.g. visiting their parliament etc or perhaps attend a formal event of one of the nobles over their (they have many earls and dukes) there is really no need. It is a bit like having to wear a top hat and tails. <BR>I believe that in any case Scottish animosity is primarily directed towards the English rather than other foreigners, so if you are American you should have nothing to fear. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. <BR> <BR>BTW ignore the above reply, haggis is merely a local food. <BR>

She must be joking. I was in Scotland for 10 days and did not see anyone wear a kilt except for the Scottish guards and performers who played the bagpipe in touristy areas. Even our Scottish friends (who live there) wore regular clothing much like in the US. We even went to a nice restaurants and men wore suits, not kilts.

ChuckSII <BR> <BR>Do not be fooled by the previous advice. Kilts are de rigeur on many occasions (not least when hunting haggis.) They are worn with tweed jackets as day wear; with short black jackets for evening and with a tail coat (called a Prince Charlie) for formal. <BR> <BR>You can get off with a shirt/ jersey and coloured socks and brogues during the day. For evening you need a white shirt with a bow tie (or jabot) and white socks with flashes. A sgian dubh (black knife) is worn stuck in top of one stocking. <BR> <BR>Highland dress was banned after the @45 but it has become much more popular since Queen Victoria built her place on Deeside in the 19th Century

Chuck, Sheila (typically) understates the rules. Yes, of course kilts are to be worn (but nothing's worn under the kilt - it's all in perfect working order, haw, haw). Her list of accessories is right on - and please don't make the typical tourist mistake of wearing a Black Watch tartan unless you've got the regimental insignia and discharge papers to go with it. You will be fined, and heavily, for displaying improper Highland attire, under the provisions of the Highland Attire and Permitted Plaids Act (Scotland), 1948, which prohibited, among other things, the wearing of Y-fronts and kilts at the same time. <BR> <BR>Your wife had better pay attention, too, and make sure she has the right length micro-mini-kilt to wear in public. I recall that was made compulsory in a 1971 amendment to the Act. <BR>

If you plan to visit any golf courses, it's also important to wear the correct attire - tartan trews (trousers) are required for all US and Japanese visitors who really want to blend in with the locals.

1) As soon as you deplane, if you don’t see any men in kilts playing <BR>bagpipes, exclaim loudly: "WHERE ARE ALL THE MEN IN KILTS <BR>PLAYING BAGPIPES?" The Scots are a hospitable people, and will <BR>be glad to produce a piper in kilt immediately. <BR> <BR>2) Everyone in Scotland is highly interested in your Scottish <BR>ancestry, even if you bled out all your Scottish blood at your last <BR>papercut. Please be sure to engage each Scot you meet in long <BR>educational monologues about your Clan history, tartan, clan motto, <BR>badge, etc. The average punter just can't get enough of this, and will <BR>be enthralled for hours on end. <BR> <BR>3) Be sure to tell the owner of every business establishment that <BR>you visit how things are done in the US. Scottish businesspeople are <BR>keen on improving quality of service up to US standards. <BR> <BR>4) Scots will appreciate your efforts to mimic their various accents. <BR>There’s no better compliment to pay someone than to imitate their <BR>accent. (A note to all the ladies interested in meeting Scottish men… <BR>if you get the accent right, all those kilted bagpipers will swoon for <BR>you.) <BR> <BR>5) Everyone in Scotland prefaces every phrase or sentence with <BR>"Aye", and finishes it with "mate". For example: "Aye, och aye the noo <BR>… mate." <BR> <BR>6) The Scott Monument is a wonderful place to visit if you are <BR>claustrophobic. It is one of the few monuments in Scotland built with <BR>the concerns of the claustrophobic in mind. <BR> <BR>7) Remember at all times to use the term "plaid" or "plad". Scots <BR>NEVER use the word "tartan". <BR> <BR>8) To praise anything or anyone in Scotland, always use the word <BR>"cute". Scots just love that. <BR> <BR>9) Scots are quite proud of the fact that Scotland is like Brigadoon <BR>come out of the mists, or a living stage for a "Highlander" film. Be <BR>sure to describe things as "quaint", which is the term they use <BR>themselves. <BR> <BR>10) Be sure to behave in "disorderly, loud and uncivilized behavior <BR>out and among the populace... in other words, being a Scot." You’ll <BR>make all sorts of friends in no time at all. <BR> <BR>11) Ask every kilted man, "What do you wear under your kilt?" This <BR>is a standard Scottish greeting. <BR> <BR>12) Be sure to visit as many US "chain" restaurants and pubs in <BR>Scotland as possible. Scots eager to meet people from the US are <BR>bound to be there in droves. <BR> <BR>13)Be sure to mention how everything in the US is bigger, faster, <BR>and costs less. Most Scots are unaware of these facts, and will thus <BR>be reminded of what a privilege it is to live in Scotland. <BR>

The Scots love football. Be sure to engage them in conversation about their historic performances against Peru, Iran and Costa Rica in the World Cup. They will also enjoy fondly reminiscing about the goal by Paul Gascoigne in the Euro 96 tournament.

Let the Scotch (and that's the correct term) people know you are aware of their heritage because you use Scotch tape all the time, have eaten at McDonald's almost every day for your whole life, and love Pecan Sandies.

I highly recomend that rather than enqire directly what the kilted man is wearing underneath, you train your lovely children to rush up and peer underneath. That way you will find out the truth. Make sure they screech out the answer as loudly as they can.

Somebody get a shovel. The mews is full to capacity.

ChuckSII, <BR> <BR>If you plan to follow any of this advice, you'd best sharpen your claymore before adding it to the luggage. <BR> <BR>Once you've seen the price of a real kilt and accoutrements, you might just prefer to go truly native and dress like a Pict.

Since I don't have kids, I always just carry a handy pocket mirror for discreet under-tartan peeking. Works great! <BR>BTW...let me tell you about my distant relations, the MacGregors...

Mom's oncologist always wears his kilt when he has folks over for a scotch tasting. Will you and your wife be tasting any scotch?

Great stuff, guys!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one shocking posting....

You've already gotten the best advice about wearing kilns and all that plaid-related stuff, so I'll offer some tips to make your Scotch holiday more enjoyable: <BR> <BR>In pubs, always discuss with the bartend what the best single-malt is and why, then order one with Coke (pronounced 'kook'), a squeeze of lime and lots of ice. He and all the other regulars will envy your discerning palate. <BR> <BR>As the Scotch so love their neighbors to the south, I found that mentioning how much like England their country is, all the goodwill that emanates from the English or basically anything English will be met with warm appreciation. That's quite a bond they share. <BR> <BR>One last thing -- make sure you ALWAYS boil your drinking water for 20 minutes. <BR>If you think Mexico is bad just try their tap water. (Sadly, Scotland's medical and science programs lag far behind the rest of the western world). <BR> <BR>Have fun and remember (as was mentioned before), imitation is the biggest form of flattery.

Oscar! (re: &lt;You've already gotten the best advice about wearing kilns and all that...&gt <BR> <BR>Kiln...hmmm...is that,like, a some hot scotch Koolot?... <BR> <BR>

If you get a hankering for American eats, contact Stellarosa. He has a stash of Moonpies that he brought back in a big suitcase from his recent tour of the Midwest - USA. They are 5 Eurodollars each. Also, if you have trouble understanding the local conversation, ask for an English translation. Someone will be glad to provide it. Some Scots are bilingual, even trilingual: Scottish, Gaelic, and English, and they can speak "high" English. <BR>