Juan Sebastian Martinez Chamorro

Nasly Dahiana Vergara medina

Scotland is one of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom. It encompasses

the northernmost part of the island of Great Britain and shares a southern border
with England. English, and Scottish Gaelic are the principal languages. The people
in Scotland are diverse, friendly, and proud of their rich cultural heritage. They love
traditional customs like playing the bagpipes and drinking whisky on important days.
But one of the most representative customs of Scotland to the world’s eyes is men
wearing skirts as a sign of masculinity and pride, they are called Kilt or tartan. But,
What is the history behind the Kild that makes them feel proud to wear it? (Thesis
Statement) After all, in the rest of the world, it is a garment for women.

Kilts were the clothing worn to war, its versatility turned it into an essential element of
survival. Scottish Highlands used to wear them because they allowed for greater
freedom of movement during combat, and the folding of these skirts offered more
protection than trousers. Made from wool, they protected against the cold and kept
soldiers dry when fighting in wet climates. It is estimated that it averages up to 5
meters. This is why they were also used as blankets. Given their utility, kilts had
become the official uniform of the British Army in 1720. With time, kilts stopped being
war clothes and evolved into clothes perfect for big occasions.

Each tartan design identifies a clan in Scotland, those who identified with geographic
locations, were recognizable in the clan name. The word clan comes from the Gaelic
clann, which means descendant or son and refers to tribes and families. The use of
the tartan has been governed by a rule that prohibits wearing a kilt from a tartan of a
clan to which one does not belong. There are several types of tartans, including royal
tartans, which can only be used by members of the royal family and by the Estuardo
house. The Royal Stewart is the official tartan of the Royal House of Scotland.They
also have corporate tartans, mourning and hunting tartans.

The Kilt holds a significant place in Scottish culture, symbolizing rebellion and
patriotism. When Charles Edward Stuart landed in Scotland in 1745 and led an army
to oust George II from the throne, many Scotsmen rallied around him. After being
defeated at Culloden in 1746, the Scottish rebels had to face the hard repression
that King George had prepared for them. The British crown prohibited the use of kilt
and garments with tartan patterns. Jorge II tried to destroy any differentiating
element of Scottish culture, but the prohibition only served to strengthen the Scottish
identity.

The kilt has been a symbol of Scottish culture that has represented its resilience over
the years. It is one of the most important parts of Scottish heritage and has gone
through different transformations, from its use as an official uniform in war, its
prohibition in the 18th century, and its current use in daily life. The Kilt has gotten
over all these attempts to remove it from Scottish culture, and now it repels all the
occidental ideas that travel around the world creating a weird conception of a man
wearing a skirt.