Why were the Scots prohibited from wearing underwear under their kilts?
Among the many questions that are asked about the Scottish kilt, not least is the one regarding underwear. Most often you can hear the answer that this is a personal matter for everyone. It is possible that this is true now, but once upon a time there were traditions of wearing this piece of clothing that were forbidden to be violated.
The Scottish kilt is not just traditional men's clothing. This is a sacred thing, reminiscent of the highest male valor and emphasizing the identity of the entire Scottish people. Therefore, in Scotland there were strict rules for wearing a kilt. For centuries there has been a popular saying: “A true Scotsman will never wear underwear under his kilt.” Back in the 16th century, such a ban was officially enshrined.
But what does this have to do with it? Wouldn’t it be logical to wear panties or leggings under a kilt? In the end, Scotland is far from the most fertile place on the planet in terms of climate. Let's look at this issue, and to do this you need to understand how a real Scottish kilt works.
The first Scottish kilts were strikingly different from the short “skirts” that modern Scots wear at festivals. The highlanders wore a three-meter plaid around their waists - the “great kilt”, securing it to the belt with a wide leather belt. This clothing appeared precisely because of the harsh climate of the Scottish highlands (Highlands). These places are characterized by heavy rains, cold winds and extremely rough terrain with tall grasses.
If you walk on wet grass in your pants, they will be constantly wet, and drying them in damp and cool climates is very difficult. In the 16th century, there was a ban on wearing linen or wraps under a kilt. It was a military tradition associated with the specifics of the terrain.
The mountaineers had to travel long distances on foot, crossing meadows with tall wet grasses, crossing rivers, streams and lakes. In such conditions, ordinary clothes got wet, but not a kilt. This item of clothing was made of thick wool, almost waterproof. During halts, Scottish warriors took off their kilts and covered themselves with them like blankets.
The lower side of the kilt, facing the body, remained dry and retained heat perfectly. In the Middle Ages, underwear was made from linen fabric. It gets wet well and dries for a long time. If, while overtaking an enemy or, conversely, escaping from pursuit, a highlander gets his underwear wet in a river or wet grass, he will have to put up with a wet, cold rag for many hours in the most sensitive place. Is it worth talking about how harmful this is for men's health?
The lack of underwear among Scots can be seen in the 1995 film Braveheart. In one of the episodes, the highlanders, teasing the English, lift up their kilts and show them their bare bottoms. So this is not an original director’s discovery, but a real historical fact.
Centuries passed, but nothing changed. Even during the First World War, the Scots did not wear anything under their kilts. This time it was required by their military regulations. The rule no longer had any practical significance, since the battles took place in different climatic conditions. The ban on wearing underwear became a tribute to an ancient military tradition and raised the morale of soldiers.
This rule was taken very seriously. Every morning during formation, an officer walked along the line of Scots with a golf club to which he tied a mirror. Using this simple device, he looked under the kilts of soldiers. If anyone was caught wearing underwear, he was hit with a stick and sent to the barracks to remove his underpants. A true Scotsman must honor the valor of his ancestors, even if in such an unusual way.
During World War II, this rule was no longer in effect. The Scottish military were dressed in regular military uniforms, which were much more practical. But even today, some men in Scotland still adhere to the ancient custom. In 2015, some bars even banned serving customers in kilts. This was due to the fact that some women, having had too much, lifted up the “skirts” of the guys. The manager of one of the pubs described it this way:
It turns out that up to 80 percent of kilt lovers are still keepers of traditions! Today there are no rules prohibiting wearing something under this part of the national wardrobe. But, as we see, most representatives of the stronger sex strive to return to their roots and honor the memory of their ancestors.