If you’re
ancestry is “Gaelic” or as some might say, “Celtic”, you are apt to be a decent
of Ireland,
Scotland
(perhaps her Highlands), or maybe the Isle
of Man; Gaelic too is an adjective that means “pertaining to the Gaels”
including language and culture. In any event, if
you think that the Scot’s have an exclusive market on the Kilt, you’re wrong.
Starting
sometime around the 5th century the Gaelic language and culture spread from the
island of Ireland to the southwest coast of modern Scotland. There is
however some uncertainty over this belief as a result of the fact that there is
disputed archaeological evidence to support the accepted tale of relocation; in
fact there are some who suggest that there was no migration at all; regardless,
the state that was ultimately founded is modern day “Scotland.”
While kilts are occasionally seen in
Ireland, like in bagpipe bands, it is usually associated with Scotland, not
Ireland; but there is little doubt that the kilt; both the Irish and Scottish versions are
seen more and more often in many different parts of the world. Even the folks
on the small Isle of Man, just east of Scotland have their own kilts, and they
are becoming right popular on the Island.
In any
event, let’s set the record straight: There is no evidence in
early Irish records to support the theory that the kilt was invented in
Ireland. There are many stone carvings which archeologists have found that clearly depict crosses
and monuments in Ireland, dating prior to the 11th century; often times claims are made that the
figures are wearing kilts; but this is inaccurate because what is actually
pictured is called a “Leine”, or Irish tunic (you might call it a coat). The Leine
may appear to have a skirt reaching to the knee but this is simply the lower part of
the tunic, not a separate garment as would be the case of the kilt. The real truth
is, it’s not related to the kilt in any way, nor is it an early version of the
Kilt.
There is
too some confusion about the garments worn by soldiers and knights in days of
old; quilted armor from the Middle Ages, especially following the fall of the
Roman Empire, known as “Cotuns” in Irland were long, heavily quilted, and padded
tunics that served as light armor. In ancient carvings, the quilting is depicted
with vertical lines running down the tunic, which has oftentimes been mistaken
for pleating, so these knee length garments are often claimed to be kilts.
Most historians believe Irish kilts gained
popularity during the eighteenth century.
It is probable that they were adopted by Irish nationalists who wanted
to adhere to their Celtic identity. The
best guess places kilts in Ireland in about 1880.
Today,
you’ll notice Irish kilts and Scottish kilts are an important part of the
culture. They are proudly worn at special ceremonies and various national
functions. No matter your heritage, you
can’t help but appreciate the rich history of both, the “Irish Kilt” and its
older ‘brother’ the “Scottish Kilt”.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaelic
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_Irish_wear_kilts_now http://www.littleshamrocks.com/Irish-Kilt.html http://www.your-kilt.com/irish-kilts.html http://www.tenontours.com/irish-history/scottish-and-irish-kilts/
No comments:
Post a Comment