SCOTTISH TRADITIONS
The Official Magazine Britain|January - February 2021
From Highland dress to Hogmanay, the Scots have some unique customs that have stood the test of time. But what were their origins?
HELEN OCHYRA
SCOTTISH TRADITIONS

1. The kilt

There is much dispute in the history of Highland dress, and its best-known garment, the kilt. Some say it was invented by an Englishman, others that it has a long and noble history as the uniform of the clans.

Its modern history began with the Act of Proscription, drafted into British law in 1747 in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden. This aimed to eradicate Highland culture (and with it any opposition to the Hanoverian state) and made wearing Highland dress illegal with one notable exception: the army.

This allowed the elite of British society to define the Highlands as a military region par excellence, an idea which persists to this day, with many units still wearing Highland dress for ceremonial occasions.

The kilt began to denote status and, through its association with the elite, it became fashionable – and expensive. It also became leaner, generally losing its plaid (the long section which winds up and over the shoulder), and becoming the “little kilt” or “feileadh beag”.

This is where Englishman Thomas Rawlinson, an industrialist seeking to make Highland dress more practical for his workers, comes in.

But the kilt we see today almost certainly developed in many places throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, making its exact origin unknown, and much disputed.

The Act of Proscription was revoked in 1782, and in 1822 King George III wore a kilt on his visit to Edinburgh, a tartan-drenched affair orchestrated by Sir Walter Scott. This secured the kilt’s place as Scotland’s national dress, which it retains to this day.

2. Burns Night

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January - February 2021-Ausgabe von The Official Magazine Britain.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January - February 2021-Ausgabe von The Official Magazine Britain.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE BRITAINAlle anzeigen
Take The High Road
The Official Magazine Britain

Take The High Road

The North Coast 500 is an epic route that takes you past some of the country’s most spellbinding scenery

time-read
5 Minuten  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Where To Stay In 2021
The Official Magazine Britain

Where To Stay In 2021

Whether it’s a country house escape, a rustic bolthole or a sophisticated city stay, you’ll find your perfect getaway on these pages

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
Britain 2021 Guide
The EMPEROR'S ISLE
The Official Magazine Britain

The EMPEROR'S ISLE

Tresco was once a treeless and windswept island, the haunt of smugglers. Dramatically transformed by one man’s vision, it is now one of Britain’s most beautiful spots

time-read
6 Minuten  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Hidden Cornwall
The Official Magazine Britain

Hidden Cornwall

Discover the beautiful, beguiling and rugged land of West Penwith in the far reaches of Cornwall

time-read
6 Minuten  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Wonders of Wales
The Official Magazine Britain

Wonders of Wales

With its wild cliffs, pretty coves and puffins galore, St Brides Bay holds the best of Pembrokeshire

time-read
5 Minuten  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES
The Official Magazine Britain

Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES

Equal parts mystical moor and secluded seashore, the Yorkshire coast beats some of Britain’s more traditional summer destinations hands down

time-read
5 Minuten  |
Britain 2021 Guide
PEAK PERFORMANCE
The Official Magazine Britain

PEAK PERFORMANCE

From heathery moors to rolling hills and underground caverns, the Peak District is home to some of the most majestic landscapes in the country

time-read
5 Minuten  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Culture CAPITAL
The Official Magazine Britain

Culture CAPITAL

After a year of stop-start openings, London's museums are welcoming visitors back in 2021 with an array of blockbuster exhibitions

time-read
4 Minuten  |
Britain 2021 Guide
HISTORIC NORFOLK
The Official Magazine Britain

HISTORIC NORFOLK

Spend time exploring this peaceful county, whose stately homes are a grand counterpoint to its unadorned rural landscapes

time-read
6 Minuten  |
Britain 2021 Guide
1066 COUNTRY
The Official Magazine Britain

1066 COUNTRY

England’s sunny south coast has a rich heritage, harbouring ancient castles and evocative landscapes that tell the story of the Battle of Hastings and beyond

time-read
7 Minuten  |
Britain 2021 Guide