Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Scottish event offers peek at culture, heritage

Something Scottish

Jummel Hidrosollo / Special to the Home News

Kathleen Meisel, left, of the Las Vegas Fiber Arts Guild, demonstrates weaving to Ameran Harrision, 5, during the 9th Annual Something Scottish event Oct. 4 at the Rainbow Library.

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Nancy Bellan works on the threading wheel during the 9th Annual Something Scottish event at the Rainbow Library.

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Alexis Brimhall, 14, of the Las Vegas Highland Dance Association, performs a Scottish dance during the ninth annual Something Scottish event at the Rainbow Library.

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Dressed in a kilt and other traditional Scottish apparel, Stanley Brewster ordered a "Highland sausage in a bun" (the haggis tasting time was over) and strolled over to the St. Andrew's Society tent at the ninth annual Something Scottish event Oct. 4 at the Rainbow Library, near Buffalo Drive and Cheyenne Avenue.

His long, green socks that went up to his knee were held up by red flashens. He wore a Jacobite shirt: a loose shirt with long sleeves and a tie at the top. Hanging around his waist, he had on a sporran; a leather bag Scotts wear because "kilts don't have pockets," Brewster said.

Draped over his shoulder he wore a plaid, which are pieces of fabric made out of the same material of the kilt, held on by a pin.

Modern-day kilts are made of eight yards, but in the old days a kilt was made of nine yards and the extra yard was draped over the shoulder. Now the extra yard (the plaid) is pinned on over the shoulder for tradition. Finally, he wore a glengarry hat that looks similar to a beret, but with ribbons in the back; there is a saying that if the ribbons are tied, it means the man is married, but if untied he's single, Brewster said. Brewster's ribbons were untied.

Brewster fit right in to the crowd at the event. Many Scottish descenders proudly wore kilts made out of the tartan that represented the clans their ancestors or family members belong to.

Some people showed up at the event just to watch the dances, listen to the music and be with family.

Summerlin resident Shawna Redfern said her ancestors are from Italy, but that didn't stop her from bringing her three kids to enjoy the activities.

"I don't care where you're from, these shortbread cookies are amazing," Redfern said after she bought a bag of six shortbread cookies for $1 from the St. Andrew's Society.

Brewster said he's glad to see new faces and people enjoy the Scottish traditions at the event.

Made of traditional Scottish red and green, a kilt made of the Fraser tartan was wrapped around Brewster's waist.

The Fraser clan was located on both sides of Loch Ness Lake.

"We've been pulling the wool over people's eyes for a long time," Brewster said jokingly.

But Brewster wasn't born in Scotland, nor has he been there. He's from New York. He didn't even know he had Scottish ancestry until he moved to Las Vegas 27 years ago when a former president of St. Andrew's Society, also a co-worker, told him he had a Scottish last name. Brewster started doing family history research, and gained interest in his heritage.

An interesting tidbit Brewster found out was that originally his ancestors' last names in Scotland was Brewmaster, he said with a smile.

Now Brewster is finishing up his second year as the president of the St. Andrew's Society.

The society promotes Scottish tradition and culture for those with Scottish blood or simply for those who love Scotland. The group meets the second Thursday of the month at the First Christian Church, 101 S. Rancho Drive, and is open for anyone who wants to enroll. A typical meeting could have dancers, bagpipe demonstrations or lessons on Scotland. About 86 families are registered with the society.

The Something Scottish event is co-sponsored by the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and the St. Andrew's Society.

"There are no Scottish games, it's not a real Scottish gathering, with only three or four clans here, so it's just Something Scottish," is how Brewster described the event and how it got its name.

The Las Vegas Fiber Arts Guild had representatives at the event making tartans, while local members of the Scottish American Military Society and performers included the Desert Sky Pipe Band and the Las Vegas Highland Dance Association.

For more information about membership of the St. Andrew's Society, call 223-8040.

Jenny Davis can be reached at 990-8921 or [email protected].

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