Traditions for Scotland are not just about maintaining the national spirit and identity that distinguishes proud Scots from the lowland (in the sense of those living not in the mountains but in the plains) Anglo-Saxons. It is also big business. It is for kilts, plaids, tartans, bagpipes and other exotic items that hundreds of thousands of tourists come here every year, without whose money the local souvenir industry and the proudly towering castles here and there would simply fall apart.
Unsurprisingly, loyalty to traditions is carefully cultivated in Scotland. Moreover, all somewhat famous Scots are actively involved in preserving them. For example, the superagent in a skirt, Sir Sean Connery, who even at his knighthood ceremony showed off in a kilt. And last year's attempt by European Union officials, when classifying clothing items produced in Europe, to place the kilt in the "Women's clothing" section caused such a scandal in Scotland that Brussels had to back down.
However, sadly, only those traditions that bring income are preserved. Those that cause more problems than money steadily die out. One example of such evolution was the decision of McCalls, founded back in 1887 and having branches throughout the country, one of Scotland's largest kilt rental companies, to oblige its clients to wear underpants under kilts. Representatives of McCalls announced that kilt renters, alas, are not too clean, and they are tired of spending money and time on cleaning kilts that are becoming increasingly dirty. True Scotsmen were up in arms.
Jamie MacGregor, a member of the Scottish Conservative Party dealing with cultural issues, said: "I consider this absolute nonsense. The mystery of what is under a true Scotsman's kilt is as integral a part of our culture as the Loch Ness Monster. This rule will destroy all the romance and mystique surrounding the question of what is under the kilt. It is impossible; they have no right to do this."
Former soldier Bill Smith, an employee of the museum of the Gordon Highlanders regiment in Aberdeen, says: "All soldiers wearing kilts were forbidden to go upstairs on trams and buses, so as not to frighten women. Every day the regiment was inspected by an officer armed with a small mirror, similar to those used to search for bombs under cars. Anyone found wearing underwear was sent back to take it off."
However, McCalls stated that it no longer has time for traditions. And in order to leave the company's store in a kilt, a visitor must agree to wear underwear. For this purpose, corresponding notices were placed in the stores. "We had to introduce new rules to protect the clothing and our customers. Kilts were returned in a terrible state. It's simply stupid to say you are not a true Scotsman if you wear underwear under a kilt. It is uncomfortable anyway," said one of the company's managers.
So if you are in Scotland, keep in mind – once you put on a kilt, you cannot take off your underwear. On pain of paying a substantial fine. An end to male pastimes à la Marilyn Monroe on a subway grate, an end to photos that cause laughter in friendly companies. However, all this is not completely lost yet – you can simply buy a real kilt. True, this pleasure will cost at least $300.