Yes, the tartan-plaids being distinctive per clan is ' new' if one is ok with early 1800's being new- but the garment was this massive piece of woven cloth which was worn wound around the body It served as garment, protection, and traveling house- ever been up on the moors where you swear every, single gust of wind knew exactly where it could cause the most discomfort? Scotland is NORTH of all that, times 8. Little chilly, boggy is spots- you required a veritable Winnebago of a garment to go anywhere, much less drive sheep to market many miles from home.
And it was still a far cry from the cutsie stuff it became later ( although I'll defend that, too ), although there's no definitive answer on how the kilt became short. A few different stories, all told with authority AND sources so I don't personally know which is which. Scottish clans were still pretty fearsome entities in the early 1800's, I can see where having ' colors' would have caught on like a smouldering bog. And like the Irish when they made their way to America- I do not see a thing ' wrong' with celebrating one's heritage- no matter how many little twists and turns various legends ( not to mention gene pools ) have taken through the years.
Ever try to keep trimming your hedge, in front of your house so it's the same shape, remains the in the same place as when you planted it? Every year, lop off and trim, keep it contained, ensure nothing spreads to look untidy? You can't. Its' a living thing not a decoration- they die.( have a wealthy friend who did exactly this with some expensive, rare bush- then complained to the nursery owner when it died after a few years ).You can't KEEP nationalities the same, transplanted into new soil, the new country- the DO spread and grow out of enthusiasm, for one, and spreading OUT because all of a sudden there's room for the branches to reach for sunlight. Purists are just, plain wrong, is the thing- even the ones left in the Old Countries. I think the Irish and Scots back across the pond should get a HUGE kick out of their cousins over here, what happens ( like I told Pat earlier ) when the Irish, for instance, were able to be FREE, employ their magic- like dropping a Mentos in a bottle of hi-octane Coke.
Sorry for the pithy little lecture- just love this stuff, fell free to tell me to shush, already.