Tartan
The woolen garments that the dancers wear have patterns called "Tartans". Each tartan is different, and is associated with a clan or family all with the same surname. Today however , people very often choose to wear a tartan because they like the pattern and colours rather than because it is their family tartan. The skirt that the men wear is called a "kilt" and is made from approximately six metres of cloth.

The Dances
There are many short individual dances which tell a story or represent an event in Scottish history. For example, we have a Sword Dance which originally was performed by the chief of the clan who after victory in a battle, would celebrate by dancing over a cross made from placing his sword over that of his defeated opponent.

There is also the "Seann Truibhas". In Gaelic, ( the old language of the Highlands, and still used), it means "old trousers". It is said that this dance was created to celebrate the Scots being permitted to wear the kilt again. The kilt had previously been forbidden to be worn by the English dominated Parliament, following the defeat of the Scots at the battle of Culloden in the eighteenth century, because it was regarded as a uniform, and the bagpipes as a weapon of war. The Scottish men had to wear trouser. One hundred years later, the restriction was lifted, and this brought joy to Scotland.