Being a part of a culturally rich area is an amazing experience and this counter boosts especially when your culture does not dominate around you. An example to comprehend this point is Scottish-Irish influence in North Penn, Pennsylvania. Many Scots-Irish immigrants chose this area to settle down during the 18th century. While living there, these emigrants positively impacted the local culture as well.
These communities spread out over the time and the number of people with direct Scottish or Highland roots became smaller. Today, while the Scottish-American population in North Penn may be fewer, those who still have Scottish heritage can proudly celebrate it without feeling out of place.
North Penn, as its name expresses, is the Northern area of Pennsylvania, which is an American state and home to diverse landscapes. The people living there have different landscapes from mountainous to forested terrains and agricultural lands on the other side.
The place is not bigger in size as its total area is around 42 square miles, while the population is about 98,000 residents only. The factor popularizing it is a blend of many cultures. No single culture is said to be dominating there as Swedes, Dutch, Finnish, English, German, Welsh, and Scots live there and all have their unique traditions.
Being compact in overall size in North Penn, some Scots may not be able to express love for their culture openly. This situation can be problematic. To help them, we are here with some exciting tips to showcase heritage confidently.
The first thing is to participate in every local cultural event, like foodie adventures and other local festivals, whether it belongs to you or not. This approach will boost confidence in you and make you meet people from other cultures. This can be a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and represent yours too. The other seeing you in traditional attire will be motivated to become part of your festivals.
The next step you can take is to add the culture to your everyday life. As a Scot, you can understand how simple it is as Scottish kilts are the most powerful sign of the culture today. For ceremonial commemorations, you have traditional tartan-made kilts while you can wear denim, utility or leather kilts casually for cultural representation.
An effective way to promote or adopt traditions confidently is to educate others about them. In North Penn, consider engaging yourself with local schools such as North Penn High School and libraries. You may also ask them to add your culture to the syllabus. Remember, the ideal age to remember something is childhood. So you can arrange some traditional performances in the Schools as well. Make sure to wear traditional dress in the presentations.
Americans and Scots celebrate many Scottish events collectively and the common examples are Tartan Day Parades in New York and Highland Games held in many regions. The people there even have formed various joint groups such as American Scottish Foundation and St. Andrew's Societies. These groups work unitedly to encourage the culture. You can also become part of these groups or even create your own group in North Penn.
Incorporating Scottish traditions such as cultural music, arts, and sports into local activities. This approach may require efforts but consider joining or organizing ceilidh dances, or introducing Scottish sports like tug-of-war or the caber toss at local North Penn events. You must invite others to join the celebrations. Without a doubt, these activities allow you to honor your heritage with pride and let others see your respect for tradition.
Many people feel shy, insecure, and have a fear of standing out in wearing kilts whether they are in North Penn or New York. If you also have the same issue, the above mentioned tips might not be effective, if you are not confident enough. So, follow these given tips.
Start Small: If you are not confident enough to wear kilts directly, begin with wearing small accessories such as a scarf or pin. It will boost your confidence.
Find Supportive Friends: In places where your culture does not dominate, wearing kilts sounds awkward because of its unique aesthetics. So, prefer surrounding yourself with a group of friends who have respect for your culture or who can wear the same apparel to support you.
Focus on Your Pride: Do not over think while wearing traditional dress. Instead, keep on reminding yourself that you are dressing up in an apparel which is not a piece of fabric but is a sign of pride in your heritage. It will definitely help you overcome the fear.
We can understand that wearing Scottish kilts in a region like North Penn, which hosts many cultures can be a frightening moment. However, you must keep on reminding yourself that the apparel you wear is not a random one but a choice of senses and a representative of your culture. To showcase your culture proudly, participate in local communities, incorporate it to your daily life, and join American-Scottish groups. Moreover, stay confident while wearing kilts and feel proud as you are part of an amazing culture.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/northern_ireland/ni_2/article_1.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Penn_Valley
