Oh well, were we to bring the even more ubiquitous origins of pipes into it we'd be here all day. They're no more exclusively "Scottish" than tins of shortbread. Again, they're mentioned by Chaucer and were widespread throughout Europe, North Africa, the Gulf and the Caucasus region. British colonialism took them to the furthest reaches of the former empire. Highland pipes (and tartan) became popular, and romanticised, in the Victorian era as a reaction to the ban on them and the Gaelic language imposed after Culloden being lifted.

Volgadon's post above reminds me of Brian McNeill's No gods and precious few heroes:

"Are you sitting in your council house dreaming of your clan?
Waiting for the Jacobites to come and free the land?
Try going down the broo with your claymore in your hand
And count all the princes in the queue."


Every time WAV opens his mouth his foot becomes further embedded. Enough. Go away and learn something before even thinking about coming back.