Wearing a clans tartan

[Anthony]

I've been reading on the internet about wearing a Clans tartan,and as with all things there are differing opinions about who may and may not wear a clans tartan.

Some say it's okay to wear any tartan regardless of clan affiliation, others say one should not wear a clans tartan unless you are a part that clan.

My interest in wearing clan tartan stems from my adoptive mothers Great grand parents being Scottish immigrant's named Muir.

[Jerry]

When I was trying to decide which clan Tartan to order for my first kilt, I checked out the websites on the two clans to which I felt that I had a connection (Macneil of Barra and the house of Gordon) Both said that I had a legitimate connection and could wear their tartan without feeling guilty about it. But both having said that said that anyone was welcome to wear their tartans, and could even join the clan association if they wished and supported the aims and ideals of the clan. Technically, the clan association follows the father's limeage, but havibg a mother, or stepmother is accepted also. My father's family is a sept of clan MacNeil and my mother's side of the family are Goedons. I chose the MacNeil tartan, but my next kilt will be in one of the Gordon Tartans

[Freelander Sporrano]

Anthony,

I too am a little like you in the fact that for my first kilt (Modern Gunn)I wanted one I at least had a connection to however tenuous it might be.

I have figured that there are so many really nice tartans out there. That it would be a shame not to have a kilt in this ,or that tartan just because you are trying to "Go by the rules"

If you are not planning to go to a clan gathereing then I don't think it would matter too much.

I have a Hunting Maclean just because I liked it. I'm not planning on a clan gathering. Whats more I still have a lot of choices

Co Fermanagh (My father is from there)
Irish Diaspora (Irish blood Tartan)
Hunting Macleod (My Surname is a Sept)
Irish National

And these are just 4 of the Tartans that are on my list that I have a connection with There's load I just like too.

So get that Muir and have fun

[Jerry]

Anthony,

I too am a little like you in the fact that for my first kilt (Modern Gunn)I wanted one I at least had a connection to however tenuous it might be.

I have figured that there are so many really nice tartans out there. That it would be a shame not to have a kilt in this ,or that tartan just because you are trying to "Go by the rules"

If you are not planning to go to a clan gathereing then I don't think it would matter too much.

I have a Hunting Maclean just because I liked it. I'm not planning on a clan gathering. Whats more I still have a lot of choices

Co Fermanagh (My father is from there)
Irish Diaspora (Irish blood Tartan)
Hunting Macleod (My Surname is a Sept)
Irish National

And these are just 4 of the Tartans that are on my list that I have a connection with There's load I just like too.

So get that Muir and have fun

My father's family are also Irish. County Tyrone, hence my use of Jer "Mc" as a screen name. I am also considering other tartans as well. Like I said above I have seen it said many times that it doesn't really matter. I guess I am a member of Clan MacNeil of Canada at least the sent me the latest newsletter on Friday. The quote about they not caring, came directly from , the clan chief.

[Freelander Sporrano]

There's a link Anthony if you havn't already looked it up
http://www.clanfinder.com/foreversco...p?clanCode=280

[Riverkilt]

Anthony, you have a fine connection to the Muir tartan, go for it. Being adopted (some say a remaining form of slavery) is as close as being a sept of a clan.

If you're not already aware of it check out a great "uppity" adoptive rights website www.bastards.org

A Muir tartan kilt would look great with their t shirt.

Ron

[Anthony]

Riverkilt, thanks for that link to the "Bastards" site, I hadn't heard of them and I would like to know about blood line.

[macwilkin]

Several years ago I wrote the Clan Muir Society and asked them for their permission for to wear their tartan, since I am a seasonal US National Park Ranger, and one supporter of our National Park System was Scotsman John Muir. The Society's secretary enthusiastically responded "yes" to my request -- although I have not been able to do so yet, I would imagine that "yes" still stands.

Bottom line: There is no "right" to wear a particular tartan, save "restricted" tartans such as the Balmoral Tartan and some clan/family tartans wear you must by the material from the Chief and/or society and prove descent. Thompson says:

The dictionary definition of rights lists three kinds: legal, moral and divine (as in "the divine right of kings.") Since it has never been suggested that any use of the tartan is illegal, immoral and ungodly, it is meaningless to talk about anybody's right to any tartan.

A connection to a tartan, however large or small, is better than no connection at all, but even no connection to a tartan is not "wrong" either. Again, bottom line: if you have the connection, and like the tartan, then wear it. I would recommend joining the Clan Society (if there is one) of the tartan you are wearing -- most clan societies, save a few, allow anyone to join, regardless of "blood" -- and that is what many clans in days of old practiced anyway.

My father's family are also Irish. County Tyrone, hence my use of Jer "Mc" as a screen name.

I used to hear this a lot when I worked as a genealogy librarian, but "Mac v. Mc" defining whether one was Scottish or Irish is pure myth. "Mc" is an abbreviation of "Mac", plain and simple, and sometimes you even see M ' as the abbreviation -- nothing more than the product of a lazy clerk or immigration officer! :mrgreen: You find Macs and Mcs in both Scotland and Ireland.

Cheers,

T.

[Anthony]

I've been reading on the internet about wearing a Clans tartan,and as with all things there are differing opinions about who may and may not wear a clans tartan.

Some say it's okay to wear any tartan regardless of clan affiliation, others say one should not wear a clans tartan unless you are a part that clan.

My interest in wearing clan tartan stems from my adoptive mothers Great grand parents being Scottish immigrant's named Muir.

[Jerry]

When I was trying to decide which clan Tartan to order for my first kilt, I checked out the websites on the two clans to which I felt that I had a connection (Macneil of Barra and the house of Gordon) Both said that I had a legitimate connection and could wear their tartan without feeling guilty about it. But both having said that said that anyone was welcome to wear their tartans, and could even join the clan association if they wished and supported the aims and ideals of the clan. Technically, the clan association follows the father's limeage, but havibg a mother, or stepmother is accepted also. My father's family is a sept of clan MacNeil and my mother's side of the family are Goedons. I chose the MacNeil tartan, but my next kilt will be in one of the Gordon Tartans