Ask Nessie! - Questions & answers about Scotland Two

Question from Kerrplunk - Where did the kilt originate from in Scotland?

The earliest known reference of the kilt, as it is known today, was in the 17th Century. A tunic-like dress worn in the Highlands was displaced by a garment called the belted plaid. The belted plaid was a long rectangular piece of cloth (1.8m x 5.5m/2 x 6 yds). The Gaelic word for blanket is plaide. The Highlander stood in the skirt of the kilt ,and rested the remainder of the material over his shoulder. The surplus was often used to bed down on.

The feilidh-mor, 'great kilt', evolved into the modern day kilt, the feilidh-beg, the 'little kilt'. The origins of the tartan with which the kilt is made is often hotly disputed. Scotland = passion.

Did you know?

It is said that the Clan Donald burned down the town of Inverness at least seven times.
Nowhere does it state that they rebuilt it so they could burn it down again.

The name of the Scottish Devil is Black Donald.

Question from Pumpkin - What’s a clootie dumpling?

A clootie dumpling is a rich, fruity cake steamed or boiled in a cloth. A cloth is called a clootie in Scotland. It’s made with fruit and spices and served with cream. A clootie well is a well or spring where pilgrims leave strips of cloth or rags. It’s usually performed as a healing ritual.

Question from Bill - Most known Scotch poet after Rabbie Burns?

This title would fall to a William Topaz McGonagall. He was born of Irish parents in Edinburgh in 1825. He worked as a handloom weaver in Dundee. His desire to become a poet sparked into life in 1877. His most famous poem is The Tay Bridge Disaster. It recounts the collapse of the Tay Bridge on the 28th December 1879. The bridge collapsed during a severe gale, carrying a train that was passing over it down into the icy Tay.

McGonagall thought of himself as an actor as well as a poet. Friends and family filled the theatre as McGonagall played MacBeth in MacBeth - they had all mostly come along to witness a McGonagall disaster. MacDuff would ordinarily have murdered MacBeth in the play, but McGonagall in his creative wisdom felt that the actor playing MacDuff was deliberately upstaging him. McGonagall refused to die. And who could blame him? He did eventually die on the 29th of September 1902 and is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh.

Question from Sammy - Who is Spud the piper?

Spud the Piper is a well-known bagpiper who plays at Scottish wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Spud means potato in Scotland. His real name is Calum Fraser and he hails from Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands. He has piped at weddings and many other events throughout Scotland, the UK and worldwide. He's most popular at Burns Suppers and St Andrew's day events. He has played for Madonna, Ashley Judd, Jamie Lee Curtis and many more celebrities.

Spud was bitten by a spider when he was playing in Thailand for Chivas Regal promoting the 100 Pipers brand in 2005. He was carted off to Chiang Mai hospital for antidotes. The tour was a success and 100 Pipers became of the best selling drams in Asia.

After playing at many weddings, Spud finally married Karen in Alvie Church near Aviemore.