Heritage and Reality!

[James]

Recent posts with reference to the recent Rob Roy film can I think illuminate some of the background as to why those of us with a strong affinity by blood to a specific clan feel so strongly about such things as our unique tartan.

First a dash of reality, the history of the clans is a savage one of treachery, double dealing, feuds, cattle raiding the abduction of women, and just about everything to send the modern 'correct' individual into terminal shock. Whilst day to day life was harsh, by even the standards of the time: so there is good reason for the clans to be held in low esteem throughout the rest of Scotland-and as for England!

So whilst such films as Brigadoon, Braveheart, and of course Rob Roy paint a certain picture-it is one that paints a rather rosy scene.

However against this background there developed fierce loyalties, and the concept of the clan being the base for both aggression and defence: the lodestone of an individuals very being.

At this point it is possible to argue that such things as specific tartans are a recent ' oft early Victorian invention': however over a period of a couple of hundred years they have developed an association at both the actual and the mental level: so do whatever people might say today, loom large in the thoughts of the clansman of today.

Too whilst some would decry the wearing of the skean dhu, it is in the same way a link to our very being-our clansman/warrior being, so to discard it easily, or substitute a dummy, does not come easy.

Of course it would be possible to discount us as romantics hankering after an imagined past: not true at all, or we do not have a blinkered view of the past. Rather we are looking to something else: that is belonging, belonging to a particular group with a shared identity: so in simple terms: 'thanks to the past we know who we are today'.

This getting back to the discussion which takes place here , is why we get so unhappy when so called experts citing this or that authority say that anyone can wear any tartan-regardless of their bloodline claims. For the various books and authorities do not of necessity share the emotional links of the clansman: and as for the tailors with their lists!

However this is not to try and deny the ability of people without such a link to wear a tartan: for there are many district tartans, and such ones as the Jacobite which are available. Besides the solid colours, and all the tartans invented in recent years. Whilst with entire irony, the wider population of Scotland now lay claim to the kilt-a garment that not so long ago they would have scorned as the attire of 'ignorant savages'.

On a personal note, I have not the least intention of allowing my emotions upon the subject to intrude upon the reality of today. Rather I'm pointing out that on occasion some of the assumptions made today do trample on the feelings of many a clansman.

James

[Archangel]

Good post, again.
Points out the problem with the "historical method", which I subscribe to by the way. Anecdotal evidence has a role in order to build the empirical data, it's just so hard to validate and measure the former. In my case, I try to always separate what is family lore from "facts", although the paradox is that, if I can publish, then my "lore" becomes someone else's fact. "Lore" is another moving point in the story of humanity. (Way too early to be academic.)

Two observations:

so there is good reason for the clans to be held in low esteem throughout the rest of Scotland-and as for England!

Not sure what you mean here. Are you referring to the prejudice, which was there?
Outside the writer/observer class, most of the Britain was in a poor estate, Scotland more so.

Too whilst some would decry the wearing of the skean dhu, it is in the same way a link to our very being-our clansman/warrior being, so to discard it easily, or substitute a dummy, does not come easy.

More bad history method: ever try to line up family lore about the skean dhu with what side the clan would have been in '15/'45. There seems to be a correlation with the rebel side having a different mythos than the victor's more passive interest in the skean dhu but, again, it's bad science.

[Sir Robert]

You have basically said it all in the first post.

Let me tell you where I am comming from then I tell you how I see it. First my Mother and Father divorced and I feel estranged from his family yet I am by blood, a member. Even after 27 years in the US Army and as a retiree I am in for life, I still don't feel like a member of that service. My family has been in America since 1703 and has fought in every war since then, but after the USA's romper-stomper-bombper-boo through the South, I feel not a lot of affinaty for Uncle Sam either. Now we get to the kilt, yes it is more Victorian English than Scottish but it is a symbol of something more, some deeper connection to a pictish bloodline that we all share.

When I see someone wearing Gordon tartan I wonder if this person is my kin or if they are wearing it as a "generic" pattern, either way we two do have more in common than I do with my half brother.

[Graham]

Nicely written James, however, your posts do sometimes leave me wondering what the heck you just said. Maybe I'm a bit thick?

Nevertheless, some of the points you raise make me think that some people take themselves too seriously.
While I am aware of the bloody past, even Braveheart and Rob Roy bring that out somewhat, and I am aware of the strongly held views some hold with regard to their family names, tartans etc etc, YET.. I prefer simple explanations and reasons for wearing the kilt as I do.

First, as earlier confessed, I am a hopeless romantic. As such I have no problem in this modern age with picking out the "nice bits" of history and leaving the stuff I don't like (the violence, the hatred, the murders and so on).

Second, I just wear a kilt because I like it. I like the comfort, the romanticism, and the history (nice bits only).

Thirdly, I am both simple and casual. I lean comfortably towards Matt's view of the kilt and history, which seems well-informed but without getting uptight about the rules.

I am such a mixture of race, with English, Scottish, Irish and possibly Scandinavian that I simply like to see myself as a celt. The celts travelled and adopted bits from other cultures while contributing much of their own wheresoever they went.

Many celts wore kilts, and so do I.

I've not thought too much about some of this before, so I thank you for inspiring some deeper thought.

[macwilkin]

James, I think your post was very insightful and always, presented in a very gentlemanly fashion -- well done. You summed up quite nicely the strong symbolism that many of us feel & see when we wear a kilt which respresents our clan and/or family.

There is a great two volume documentary on the history of bagpipes titled "Instrument of War" -- in the first volume, an officer from the Argylls is interviewed about the powerful symbolism of the British "tribal" regiments such as the Highlanders, and he makes a point to mention that for the Scottish soldier, the kilt, tartan, bagpipes, etc. is a very powerful "totem and talisman", which I feel extends to civilians as well. Yes, the kilt is not an ancient garment worn by ancient Celts, and yes, the concept of the clan tartan is not shrouded in the mists of antiquity. These are historical facts. Yet, the kilt & tartan take own powerful meaning and symbolism that provide a connection to the past -- "the blood is strong", as the Canadian Boat Song tell us -- and like James, there are those of us who feel that strong pull when we don our kilts.

Cheers,

Todd

[Cawdorian]

James, you have indeed said it all.

Our Scots heritage is a proud one and is to be celebrated. Our descent from our Clan lines should be a source of pride. Granted "Rob Roy" does give us a some sense of how difficult life was for our ancestors in Scotland. I am glad I took the time to watch the movie, it was a real education.

As a student of genealogy, it never ceases to amaze me that we have have so many ancestors. Each of us are truly unique individuals. I have been very fortunate to be able to trace many of my family lines back to the Clans. My mother and father were both were both descendants of Clan Campbell, I have been able to trace both lines back to the original "Cambuiel" and beyond.

When I see someone wearing a Campbell tartan, I know we share a common heritage.

[Casey]

I think I came to the subject of clans backwards.

I have been fascinated with the kilt ever since I saw my first pipe band. Now, my parents were/are "Canadians" and any discussion of ethnic background or roots was almost, if not, forbidden in our house.

Two years ago, while surfing the web, I came upon a very interesting site: Bearkilts. Wow, a kilt (in Canada) that a regular shmuck could afford. Now choose a tartan! I thought that a little investigation was in order. I soon discovered that, on my mother's side there was a hint of the Gordon clan sliding through Northern Ireland on the way to Canada. On my father's side I found that my family name linked me to the MacGregor clan.

So I started with a Gordon Modern tartan from Bearkilts. Then, an Ancient MacGregor from Burnett's & Struth.

After 7 kilts , and another 2 on order from Bearkilts, anything goes. I even have one of those newfangled Rkilts.

Kilts are a comfortable alternative to pants.

Oh, and yes, trés chic!

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Hey James, ever thought of collaborating with CajunScot to produce an article for XMarks? It could be from the "layman's" and "historians" perspectives. To me, it would be informative and entertaining.

You're both such good writers that it would be a nice addition to the "library".

[macwilkin]

Hey James, ever thought of collaborating with CajunScot to produce an article for XMarks? It could be from the "layman's" and "historians" perspectives. To me, it would be informative and entertaining.

You're both such good writers that it would be a nice addition to the "library".

I cannot speak for James, Jimmy, but I may just take you up on that challenge -- I need to write a column for another Scottish orgnization's newsletter anyway, so this might just kill "twa birds in yin stane", so to speak.
:mrgreen:

I guess the journalism minor came in handy then, eh? ;)

Cheers,

Todd

[Colin]

I cannot speak for James, Jimmy, but I may just take you up on that challenge -- I need to write a column for another Scottish orgnization's newsletter anyway, so this might just kill "twa birds in yin stane", so to speak.
:mrgreen:

I guess the journalism minor came in handy then, eh? ;)

Cheers,

Todd

I would be very interested to read (as I always am) anyhting written by yourself of James, Todd. I find that my opinions tend to lean the same way as you both, and I enjoy the well written intellectual posts from both of you.

Great post James, I would say it is spot on.