 Excuse Me, Could I Pet Your…Sporran? Posted by Cassondra Murray Jun 5 2012, 3:03 am
I just got back from my annual foray to the biggest games in the region. They happen each June, the weekend after Memorial Day. It’s the one weekend I mark off, absolutely, no matter what, come hell or high water, every year. I see friends there. Ones I hold dear but don’t get to see, usually, except at these games. But still, I’d attend even if my friends weren’t there. Because there’s another reason. Kilts. Ooooh, yeah. Kilts. There are lots of men in kilts at the games. Dress kilts and Great kilts. Every tartan you can think of. Even some utilikilts, which have never impressed me. At least they hadn’t until this past Saturday. We’d been at the games since early Saturday morning, so just before noon I went with two of my buddies on a search for food. We found some. For you who’ve never been to highland games, the setups vary, but there are always the same main elements. Our games are set up with a big athletic field in the center, and clan tents surrounding it. Then there’s another ring o So we were on the way back to the tent with our chicken and French fries, and decided to walk close to the athletic field. There on the corner was an open space where athletes had gathered, along with some onlookers. I was chatting away when I noticed him. I about fell over my feet. “Oh “What?” my friend asked? “What is it?” “Holy cannoli, LOOK AT THAT!” I stopped, and they stopped with me, trying to see what I was looking at.
His back was to me, and his arms were crossed, feet spread wide as he I actually checked my mouth for drool. It was that good. My friends gawked at me. This ‘awestruck at the sight of a male’ behavior, you might want to know, is completely out of character for me, and I doubt they’d ever seen me completely speechless over this kind of thing, but honestly, I’d never seen anything quite like this. Not in real life anyway.
“OH yeah,” I breathed. I eased forward, trying to get a view of the rest of him. If the front view was as good as the back view, the chances of me making it back to the clan tent with my brain intact were just about nil. He turned his head to speak to the guy standing next to him. Short-cut beard stubble. Just what I like. I stopped breathing. He turned away and headed off in the other direction. I never saw him again, so never got to ogle him from the front, but I started musing about how different men are, and how women like such different types. My friends were not into the long hair. I was. They tend to like more bulk. I tend to like lean and hard. But there is a common denominator for an awful lot of women I know. Almost any man in decent shape looks better in a kilt. But back to the whole sporran thing. For you who don’t know, the sporran is the little bag that guys carry (when wearing a kilt), on a belt or chain around their waist. And it hangs sort of..uhm…directly in front of their gentlemanly bits. It’s often the most decorative thing on the male Scottish outfit which means, if you’re a fan of said regalia, you could feasibly spend right fair amounts of time staring at the nether regions of men in kilts. I know this from personal experience. Yes, I do. Some of these sporrans are truly spectacular. And, well…you kind of want to touch them. Assuming you’re not the squeamish type who doesn’t want to touch fur. They are generally made of leather that is dyed and polished or embossed, or….they’re made of fur. Sometimes intact furs. Everything from This one on the left is kind of simple, but it looks soft and cushy. Okay y’all, I’m a softie when it comes to animals. I grew up with a dad who hunted, but I can’t personally kill anything with fur and don’t even squish bugs if they’re not bothering me. But I’ve gotta tell ya, there’s something about a big strapping guy in a kilt with a fur sporran that makes me want to stare. And touch. And if it’s a soft, cushy sporran, I want to pet it. The sporran. I want to pet the sporran. Y’all get your minds out of the gutter, will ya? As I type this and reflect on my interest in these things, I think I’ve hit on one of the core reasons I’m attracted And there’s no lack the other way either. It gets my blood going a little, in a way that office parties, primped pressed and politically correct suits and sequins do not. I will admit that I have asked men in kilts if I could pet their sporrans.
Bandits and Buddies, have you ever attended a Scottish Highland Games or Celtic festival? Ever ogled a guy in a kilt? Do you think a kilt adds a measure of sexy to a guy? Or do you prefer a regular suit or jeans? What, in your opinion, is the appeal of a kilt? Is it just that it seems a bit exotic, or is there something inherently sexy about the kilt…or is it the obvious self-confidence of the guy wearing it? Have you ever seen a sporran that you wanted to…umm..pet? TweetPosted in Cassondra Murray, Cassondra's blogs, Highland Games, Kilts, Scottish heritage, sporrans Comments50 thoughts on “Excuse Me, Could I Pet Your…Sporran?” |
  
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Hey Cassondra,
I haven’t attended the Scottish Highland Games or Celtic festival, but it does seem like a good time. We have so many parades here and I’m not sure how I missed out on seeing a man in kilt in person. I do think part of the appeal is the confidence and knowing that they’re not wearing anything underneath the kilt.
Wooohoooo Jane!
You’re taking the GR home for the day.
Never seen him in a kilt, though I’m guessing he wears nothing under those feathers. ;0)
I think I have to agree with you on the confidence. I like guys in kilts pretty much across the board, but there are some guys I see at the games who wear kilts as though they’ve been doing so all their lives–they’re just as easy in a kilt as they are in faded jeans. It’s something to see.
Have fun with him today Jane
Helen
With that, I should go to bed. Long day tomorrow, and the alarm will go off early. I’ll see y’all after I get some sleep.
The lair bar is always open, and I’ve found a few youtube videos of actual games–the athletes doing their thing.
Sven! We may need some ice in here!
Wow, Cassondra, were there words in that post? I kinda got my eyeballs burned out by the pictures. That’s some seriously picturesque scenery accompanying your fascinating prose. I’ve actually never been to a Highland Games. Clearly I need to remedy this lack ASAP!!!! On the other hand, Scottish music makes me want to howl (in a good way) so clearly the Highland Blood isn’t completely lacking.
I love bagpipes Fo.
I know a lot of people don’t, but done well, they’re just amazing. Some of the best pipers in the world play at the games I attend. I can’t get enough of it.
Cassondra, I love bagpipes too. They bring tears to my eyes and in a GOOD way!
One of the most hair-raising things I ever heard was at the Edinburgh Tattoo. The lone piper spotlighted on the top of the castle with everything else dark–playing Amazing Grace. I cried.
Even though I’m in Australia, I live in a town founded by a large number of Scots. It seems that most Saturdays you can see a wedding with the men attending in kilts. I’m sorry, but they put the bride to shame. I don’t even notice the poor lass. Men in kilts, bagpipes skirling & I’m happy.
You’re right Mary.
The bride has to be something extra special to compete with all of that. I haven’t seen many brides that can do it.
Cassondra
Wow I loved the post and pictures and I have to say there is something about a man in a kilt especially if he has long hair to go with it love to look at them LOL.
Unfortunatley I haven’t been to a highland games or celtic gathering either but I would love to attend one think of the sights I could see.
I think men in kilts are confident sexy and exotic all rolled into one
Have Fun
Helen
Aha! Another long-hair lover.
A lot of my friends just don’t like guys with long hair. They make me drool.
Oh Cassondra – I do so love your posts.
We have a huge 3 day Irish festival here in Dublin (a suburb of Columbus) which includes many, many men in kilts – and yes, I understand the attraction.
I really think it’s the confidence that is so attractive. and maybe a bit of the swagger. Of course, I can get the same sort of feminine chills gawking the cowboys at the quarterhorse congress – so I’m thinking it’s less about the attire and more about the man beneath.
Can’t say I’ve petted a man’s sporran
but I think I’ve added that to my bucket list. LOL
Donna, I can totally see you going for it.
You have the personality that could get away with it. *grin*
Never attented highland games or anything like that but I have not a doubt in my mind that gawking would be the order of the day. I don’t know if I would have the gumption to ask to pet a man’s sporran but again, the thought would be there for sure. I agree with Donna, I think the man underneath is the draw, seeing some nice muscular calfs is sure to draw the eye as well.
Without a doubt, it’s the man underneath. In particular with a kilt I think. A man who can wear a kilt or who wears pink shirts…usually he has no lack of confidence.
Oh no! I’m much too easily influenced! Now I want to pet a sporran!! I think I may also want a pink, pointy, cone-shaped hat with sparklies on it but let’s ignore that. *facepalm* It’s true, some sporrans are oh so very nice and furry-looking but it’s never occurred to me to pet one…till now!
Yep, I’ve definitely ogled a guy in a kilt before and I think it’s the obvious self-confidence that gives them that extra measure of sexy…um…and well, they just look darned good in ‘em.
I’ve never been to a Scottish Highland Games or Celtic festival but they do sound like tons of fun. I might be a bit out of place though, being not the least bit Scottish or Celtic-y. Heh! I think going to a Highland Games would be like watching a sporting event without a team to cheer for! I wouldn’t know what to do with myself! I suppose I could go around asking to pet various sporrans…or not…
Pissenlit, lots of folks go to the games! You don’t have to be Celtic by heritage. They’re just fun!
One brochure I saw for a games up in Pennsylvania said something like “Good food. Great Music. Large men in skirts throwing stuff.”
I laughed out loud. It was a great ad. It’s just fun to go and watch. You can sit in the stands and watch the athletics, check out the vendors, watch a bagpipe competition or a highland dance competition (the little girls are so cute) and hear some fantastic Celtic bands!
Bandits and Buddies, have you ever attended a Scottish Highland Games or Celtic festival?
Does the Edinburgh Tattoo count? Been to it, drooled over the collection of guys marching to their own beat… yummy some of them… no matter what they looked like.
Ever ogled a guy in a kilt? Yep… he was a guard at the Edinburgh Castle during a tour and I nearly lost sight of my tour group. They wondered what I was looking at, but once the ladies saw who I was looking, they understood; but their husbands didn’t.
Do you think a kilt adds a measure of sexy to a guy? Or do you prefer a regular suit or jeans?
What I love is a man – with Scottish heritage – wearing his family tartan at his wedding or graduation… it adds a certain regalness to him… no matter what age. And I enjoy seeing guys in their kilts no matter what the occasion.
What, in your opinion, is the appeal of a kilt? Is it just that it seems a bit exotic, or is there something inherently sexy about the kilt…or is it the obvious self-confidence of the guy wearing it?
A man must have the confidence of wearing his family Tartan and knowing he’s proud of his family heritage… I’d be proud of wearing it. And the array of sporrans around now are amazing!
Have you ever seen a sporran that you wanted to…umm..pet?
Pet? No, admire one yes.
Absolutely the Edinburgh Tattoo counts! I’ve been to it and it was amazing. I also spent a long time taking many pictures of a particular guard at the castle. Striking blue eyes, with the red and black of the costume. *fans self*
I like the mystery of the kilt.I always want to know if they wear something underneath the kilt:)
Gail, some do and some don’t. There’s a little trick they learn when they sit. As soon as they sit, they push the kilt down in front, between their legs. If they forget, you do sometimes get an interesting view.
Sometimes it’s a view you don’t much want to see, but on some guys I’m totally okay with that.
The athletes usually wear bike shorts or something underneath their kilts because they’re going to fly up all the time and they don’t need to be focused on trying to keep their kilts down, yaknow? *grin*
I usually get my kilt fix at a local Ren Faire. (We don’t have Highland Festivals near enough where I live.) But I do enjoy a man in a kilt. *sighs* I think it’s usually the confidence of the man wearing it though. I like the charmers.
And I’m like you–I would have been all over the long-haired, lean and hard guy–not the overly brawn one! *LOL*
Hellion, I absolutely just stopped in my tracks, and I don’t recall ever doing that before. The combination of the kilt, the confidence, and the hair….I’ve never seen anything like it. I could probably be his mother, but that didn’t stop me from drooling.
Don’t ruin perfectly good fantasies worrying you could have given birth to them. *LOL*
*sigh* Cassondra, I thought I’d taught you better! There must be some Sassenach in you that we can tease out. Better yet – come to England!
Men in kilts really don’t do it for me at all. Perhaps it’s that old saying of familiarity breeding contempt *g* – those of you in cowboy country probably feel the same. There’s no denying that a kilt can make even the scrawniest of men look halfway decent, but I still prefer a man in a worn pair of denims.
Anna said:
There’s no denying that a kilt can make even the scrawniest of men look halfway decent,
Ha! At least we’ve got you on that point. I was waiting for you to show up and scoff at my kilted leanings. *grin*
Dang, no link to a website of photos… I’d gladly get out my magnifying glass to search photos for great,,, um,,, sporans…
But I’m also a fan of jeans and chaps on lean cowboys…
Cate, I did not post a link. I might should have, but was afraid of what folks might find. You can google all manner of kilted men, and the internet seems to like the photos of the kilt “accidents” when the gentleman isn’t being quite careful enough with the whole, “push the middle down when you sit” trick.
Ha!
Cassondra, what a terrific post. I could see you there, ogling that guy. *g*
Going to a Highland Games is on my list to do at some point. There are McGills and McQueens on my mother’s side of the family, and possibly other clans. I should ask my cousin the genealogist.
I actually found a (man’s) flannel shirt with the MacQueen tartan in the Lands End catalogue some years back, so I ordered it.
I have no desire to pet a sporran, or at least not so far, but I do agree guys who’re in shape look good in kilts. I’d still prefer a tux or a military uniform, though, speaking purely in theory. The dh wore a morning coat to our wedding, and I have to say he looked fabbo.
In general, I prefer clean shaven men with longish to business-cut hair, but I have no prejudice against the rugged stubbled type. *g*
Verrry nice illustrations, just BTW!
Nancy, I can see that I must convert you into a sporran-petting kilt lover. *grin*
And a kilt IS a military uniform. Some of them are anyhow.
And as to the illustrations, I downloaded a TON of them, and had trouble whittling them down. I ran out of time, which is why y’all ended up with these. There is no lack of good looking kilt candy on the web.
Yes, a kilt is a military uniform. Or was. But I meant the monochrome kind with trousers.
Mmmmm, your mystery kilt wearing man sounds simply yummy, Cassondra.
I have Scots blood (and Irish, English, Welsh, Swiss, Czech, and a bit of Native American for good measure), so I love all things Scottish. We have the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games right down the road from where I live. They are America’s finest games, and many say they are the best in the world. I love going—we missed the last two years—great pageantry, food, games, music, and some of the best people watching anywhere!!
Oooooh! I’m so envious! I’ve always wanted to go to Grandfather Mountain. I don’t know that I’d do so well roughing it, nowadays (for you who do not know, there is no power there for the campers, so it’s totally primitive camping. It’s one of the things that makes the games so unique and so awesome, from what I’m told…all the clans march in with flaming torches). Of all the games, it’s the most like the clan gatherings of old.
I so want to go.
And it sounds like we have similar heritage. We’ll have to talk of it over drinks sometime!
Being that the DH is of Scots extraction originally (family legend says they came into England in the entourage of Mary Queen of Scots, then had to lay low when she was defeated) I have always wanted to go to a Highland Games, but DH won’t go. He seems to think they’re “fake” (he has the sane attitude toward RenFaires) and he doesn’t get into all the “dressing up”. But I have seen a number of Scots weddings and I agree, the kilts add a lot of drama and romance.
I think the allure of the kilt is threefold: 1 – they really show off a man’s physique, especially legs, which we don’t often get to see; 2- you know that a good stiff breeze will get you a lot more than we don’t usually get to see, and 3- you know they can have their cabers ready for action at a moment’s notice!
Snork!
Okay, I spewed coffee on the monitors. Yes. Yes, indeed, there is nothing impeding the deployment of their cabers.
Snork.
Oh, and I meant to say (but was distracted by point 3 about the cabers…still snorking) that the highland games would be a good outing for a group of girls I think. Unimpeded ogling of men in kilts and all that….
Cassondra, I’ve never attended a Highland
Games or a Ren Faire, but photographs of
kilted men have certainly caught my ..umm,
attention! This past year Honey and I were
driving into a cemetery to attend a funeral.
I was totally taken aback by what I saw !
Striding through the shadows beneath the
trees was a ghostly-appearing, stalwart
fellow. He was garbed from head to toe in
Scottish regalia and carried pipes. I had to
ask Honey if he saw the kilted figure or was I
seeing things! He verified that the person
was real! We later found out that he was
there to play the pipes at a funeral. BTW,
he was wearing a sporran.
Oh…that would be spooky to see at the cemetery when you pull up like that. When my husband’s mom died a few years back, we had a piper at her funeral.
I wish I’d had a piper at my wedding, but back then I didn’t know anybody who played the pipes, and I wasn’t as in touch with the Scot heritage then as I am now. Steve would have worn a kilt and been happy about it.
I’ve never seen a man in a kilt in real life but I sure want to lol. Maybe because at times I think it would be wonderful to go back in time and medievals and Scots and accents and kilts and swords etc. have always been my favorite. It’s the idea that they’re strong and manly and confident and willing to die for you I guess – in real life it would probably scare me witless but I love the fantasy of it.
Catslady, those are some of my favorite time periods to read too. I don’t know if I’d want to actually GO back in time, because I’d miss things like…toilet paper WAY too much. But I love the romance of it too, and many of the Scot gentlemen that I meet at the games are just like that.
If you get to go to a games, you can live your fantasy a little bit. That’s what I do.
And as to scaring you witless…I’m guessing not. I’m guessing you’re made of much sterner stuff than that. You do put up with the Banditas after all! ;0)
Heck, Yes! My mouth waters just looking at a nicely proportioned man in a kilt!!!!
I want the guy in the gloves to help me with all the yard work I need to do!
You and me both!
And I’ve got a bunch of it to do!
Great post as usual, Cassondra! I have a mix of ancestry but the only strain anyone really pounded home to me was the Scottish part–my grandmother’s family were Stewarts. When I hear bagpipes played well, I get that stirring in my blood. Agree about the man in a kilt looking even more masculine. They can be unflattering to stubby or skinny legs but on the right man, love it!
Glad to hear that you’re a Scot! *grin*
And I get that same stirring of the blood when pipes are played. At least when they’re played well.
Good luck with the Lair’s version of a Highland Fling – the GR !!
Cassondra, SO glad I remembered NOT to drink anything when reading your posts! LOL
But it is by far one of your better ones, which says a great deal! And I must admit the scenery is SPECTACULAR !!
I have been to Highland games on both sides of the Pond. There are annual Highland Games celebrated in Montgomery, Alabama about 20 miles from where I live. They are celebrated on the grounds of the Shakespeare Festival and Montgomery Museum of Art as the Blount family who put up the money for both venues trace their roots back to Scotland.
I’ve attended Highland Games in Scotland as well.
There definitely is SOMETHING about a man in a kilt ! I spent most of my time in Scotland with whiplash and bugeyes from contorting to make certain I didn’t miss a single set of manly legs, broad chests and pettable sporans !
Yup. And then there’s that moment when a nice brisk puff of wind whips throught he streets of Edinburgh and wreaks all kinds of havok.
*grin*
Love those puffs of wind.
i never attended a Scottish Highland Games or Celtic festival
I don’t think a kilt adds a measure of sexy to a guy because in real life i’m prefer a regular suit or jeans but for book i think that’s sexy
Have you ever seen a sporran that you wanted to…umm..pet –> i dont think so hem