It’s that time again, Christmas is nearly here and the Kings of Kilts are ready to celebrate! From international fitting services to a new store in the Scottish capital, this year has been busier than ever and we couldn't have done any of it without the support of our wonderful customers. While there’s a lot to look forward to in 2023, in the meantime we’ll be celebrating Christmas and Hogmanay in true Scottish style.
Christmas Traditions
With twinkling lights brightening the dark nights and the high streets full of Christmas shoppers, the festive season is certainly in full swing. In Scotland, Hogmanay has historically been more of a focus than Christmas Day but do you know why? Christmas was actually banned in Scotland from 1640 for over 70 years under the Scottish Reformation. Hogmanay, or New Year’s Eve, became the time that many families would exchange gifts and get in the seasonal spirit. Scots who celebrated Christmas during this time risked imprisonment, and the day didn’t become an official public holiday in Scotland until 1958. Nowadays, Christmas is of course widely celebrated across the country and ceilidhs are a traditional way for friends and family to get together and celebrate the festive season. These parties wouldn’t be complete without the swish of some kilt pleats!
What to Wear at Hogmanay
With Hogmanay being one the biggest nights of the year for us Scots, it wouldn’t be right to party away without a touch of tartan. If you’re feeling traditional, you could opt for a classic Prince Charlie jacket and matching waistcoat to complete your kilt outfit, or try a pair of tartan trews for something more casual. It’s not too late to hire a last minute outfit for your New Year’s Eve plans so why not pay tribute to your Scottish roots in highlandwear as you celebrate?
Here’s to 2023
2022 has been a whirlwind year for us here at the Kings of Kilts. Despite the upheaval and uncertainty of the past few years, we are delighted to end the year on such a high. Our team went stateside with fully booked fitting services in both New York and Toronto. We collaborated with fellow Scottish businesses such as Joyce Young Collections and Islay Mist Whisky and one of our kilts even made it into the famous Kelvingrove Art Gallery. As always, we are delighted to have been part of making so many dream weddings a reality and loved seeing our couples’ special days come to life.
So what does the new year hold for us? With our new store up and running in Edinburgh, we look forward to welcoming more highlandwear enthusiasts to our authentic kilt shop experience. As well as our usual fitting services in London and Manchester, our stylists will be jetting back to the States and Canada. We already have several dates confirmed and even have some new locations in the works too. With weddings being planned, virtual appointments booked and new tartan treats in our product range, we don’t plan on slowing down in 2023.
From the whole team here at MacGregor and MacDuff, we wish everyone a wonderful Christmas time and a Happy Hogmanay. We look forward to seeing you in the new year!