Introducing Great Canadian Kilt Skaters
Some personal traits are important for kilt skaters in bad, frigid weather. The Scottish have words for it thrawn. brave, stubborn, and courageous. Also braw: pleasant and well dressed. (for more on this see Ottscot.ca Blether on Thrawn, Braw and the Great Canadian Kilt Skate) Who are kilt skaters and makes them tick? What would you expect to find them doing at a Great Canadian Kilt Skate?
The easiest place to begin is with are the Braw Lads. Generally speaking, think of older teenage boys up to middle-aged men (who still think they are youthful). They present themselves in fine winter attire and being brave-hearted; fine; joyous; handsome; pleasant; agreeable and worthy. Also, fine especially in appearance or dress. You may find a beautifully kilted middle-aged skater sailing around the ice without a care. Or a flashy young hockey-playing lad showing off his prowess and flowing locks with a stylish tartan scarf. These are the braw lads and much of their effort is spent in attracting the eye of the Bonnie Lassies.
Like the braw lads, youth is not a pre-requisite for the Bonnie Lassies. The younger ladies are certainly lovely, beautiful, and attractive in their own ways. Some are dancers and, more recently, female hockey players. Many skate well and gracefully, doing their best to ignore the lads. Robert Burns was famous for his love of the lassies but what is less known was that he also had high regard for women of all ages. His famous toast “to the Lassies” was actually to the mothers. Plenty of mothers and grandmothers are skaters or can be found watching the fun at Great Canadian Kilt Skates.
Why? because of the Wonderful Weans and Bountiful Bairns. Kilt skates are family affairs with kids and parents of all ages doing their thing. There is skating. Backwards and forwards. Games of tag. Sometimes races and feats of skill. Side games of shinny on frozen lakes and ponds. Hot chocolate and cake. Kids can just be kids. Their energy abounds and the fun is exhilarating especially when they are outdoors. It is not at all uncommon to see young mothers pushing strollers with their weans around the ice in pairs comparing notes. The bairns bring liveliness, spirit fun and excitement. Everybody has fun, well almost everyone.
No kilt skate would be complete without a few sophisticated senior former braw lads touring the ice with practised but fading skills, and always with a wary eye out for the misbehaving bairns. These are the Thrawn Bodachs. These irascible auld gents fondly remember when the winter was longer, the snow whiter and the ice better. When they played pond hockey five hours straight and never skated indoors. They are not happy with all the rinks and off-ice training and surely they were more well behaved than the disrespectful lads and lassies of today. They glare and admonish any unfortunate bairn who runs into them.. Secretly they love the skate, the family and the fun and later on you may find them happily sharing cake, hot chocolate or something stronger.
The Ubiquitous Kilts and Tartans are everybody else who gets into the thrill of the skate. It is true a few people wear kilts or tartan scarves, hats, sweaters or troosers, but many do not. All are welcome. You don’t have to be Scottish. In fact, in today’s Canada the vast majority have no direct tie to Scotland. The common denominator is a love of the diversity, inclusiveness and a Scottish sense of fun and culture.
The Proud Pipers are a highlight of a kilt skate. They are invariably well dressed in their kilts and tams. Many were braw lads and some still think they are! The music of the pipes is magic. The combination of the natural beauty of the and haunting sound of the pipes is a unique element of kilt skating. The drone and hum of the pipes gives way to melodic notes of “Flower of Scotland”, “Scotland the Brave” or “Wild Mountain Thyme”. Bagpipers themselves can be thrawn. The pipes can be testy in frigid weather. But if it’s too cold the pipes squawk and squeak and it’s time instead for a coffee or even a wee dram. Or to entertainment that features, but is not reliant, on the pipes.
The Daring Dancers are often seen alone practicing their skating forward and backwards, crossovers, jumps and pirouettes. Often figure skaters in the winter are highland dancers in the summer and we are blessed with a display of speed, skill and athleticism with a kilt blowing in the wind. These skaters are truly thrawn. braving not only the elements but less than perfect ice and sometimes busy bairn traffic. Less frequently dancers and singers will find a cooperative bagpiper and some impromptu accompaniment. It does not happen often but if it does it is braw.
Inclement weather and bagpipe challenges frequently chase participants to a nearby pub for safety and sustenance. If things can be arranged having a Celtic band play after the kilt skate can be the cherry on top. There is nothing like music to bring people together and have fun. Many of the songs can be sing-along, and if you can manage to get a mandolin or fiddle it could be a long night! The pipers, now out of the cold, will be raring to go, and, with luck, a good singer will come forward. It’s a perfect end to a perfect kilt skate day.
Nothing ever happens at the Great Canadian Kilt Skates and other Scottish Society of Ottawa events without the highly Valued Volunteers. Its not difficult to organize a kilt skate (See SSO website - Organize a Kilt Skate) ottscot.ca/organize-a-kilt-skate and a little coordination and promotion goes a long way to making it a success. The only thing you need is a few skaters wearing kilts or tartan and a little Scottish music. Dave Johnson, our volunteer director for the Scottish Society of Ottawa, is a piper and does it all. He is a walking instant kilt skate fun package. If you want more fun join us and volunteer.
By: Andy MacCulloch – Director of Communications and Kilt Skate