Wearing kilts of other tartans than your clans.

[xena]

Well, it's often been said that you don't have to be Scottish to wear a kilt, anymore than you have to be a cowboy to wear blue jeans. There are numerous universal tartans that one can wear without fear of rebuke.

Plus, many hold the idea that wearing the tartan does not necessarily mean to imply that you are claiming membership in that clan. Only if they explicitly claim to be a member of a clan, and aren't, well, then they're a bit "Walter Mitty"ish. But it's like wearing a sports jersey. Wearing it doesn't mean to everyone who sees you that you're a professional sportsman; it just means you're a fan. So it seems that you could be able to wear a clan tartan as a "fan" of sorts. Just have the courtesy to know what clan tartan you're wearing and perhaps some of it's history, and you should be okay.

As well, any military connection is allowed without question. I was a member of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, and I would be surprised - no shocked, really - if any member of the MacKenzie clan had the audacity to question my right to wear that tartan. Plus, I was also a member of 2 RCR for a while, and that battalion was created out of an amalgamation of the 1st and 3rd battalions of the Black Watch and some Guards regiments in the early '70's. So, even though that tartan is universal, I wear it knowing I have connection to it (albeit convoluted).

So, my not-so-humble opinion is that you should be able to wear whatever you want (except the privately owned and protected patterns {like the balmoral tartan} - but don't worry to much, reputable kilt dealers won't even sell them to you, so you're unlikely to accidentally get one of those). Just, if you're wearing a clan tartan, and you're not actually a member of said clan, admit it, and say that you're a "fan" of the tartan - that's all.

[Jock Scot]

I am a McGowan. I wear MacDonald of The Isle Hunting ancient. I wear the MacDonald because my father said that is our clan affiliation and he wears the MacDonald clan tartan, I wanted a tartan different from his (typical son even if i'm over 40). I am considering another kilt which I would like to be red, so I am thinking either the MacDonald of the Isle red, but could I wear the Gow tartan as well? Without offending highland Scots? Jock Scot??

Thank you for asking.The problem with offending the Highlanders you either catch a "broadside" of abuse(rarely) and a black eye(even more rarely), or far more likely, you may never ever discover that any offence has been given, or, not until 20 years later you may be stuck in a ditch and the only tow rope in the county will suddenly be "lost"! I kid you not.

As clan histories are everyday currency(in a very low key way) in the highlands we have a fair idea when to steer a conversation away from tricky ground,BUT WE DON'T KNOW EVERYONE!!! So we stick to one tartan(its cheaper too) and then we can at least know most of that clan and tartan's history and then we know when to keep quiet! It just is best to stick to one clan tartan.

For you to wear a MacDonald tartan ,but not the same as your father is OK,but it is considered as a very public rejection of your father's clan. Don't forget that there are, perhaps, very bitter memories within a clan, never mind between different clans. I am not sure of the Gow history, but in the highlands you would expect to wear your father's tartan and that would be that. There is nothing to stop you wearing the Gow tartan, it you wish, though.

Please don't runaway with the idea that the highlands is still a seething mass of clan warfare and rivalries. It is not, and it is to the credit of the Scots of today, that nearly all that nastiness is well in the past,we don't forget though and nor should we. Most of the trouble, these days, comes from the ignorant, the arrogant, the drunk and the non Scots who have been brought up with the "biscuit tin" history of the travel industry who have thrived on selling misconceptions and half truths.

[Jock Scot]

Mods could you delete post 109 (mine) on this thread, as it only contains half of what I was trying to say. Gremlins have struck I am afraid. Sorry.

[Bugbear]

On the other hand, Hamish has almost a hundred kilts, and many of them are different tartans...

Perhaps it's not that bad. * Shrugs *

[David Dubh]

Thanks for the info Jock. I hadn't realised that picking a diiferent tartan within the same clan could be construed as rejecting my fathers clan. I certainly had never thought that I was doing that I will be more carefull when I choose my next tartan if indeed I do go for another kilt.

[Laird O'the Cowcaddens]

Thanks Jock, reading your comments was like having my Da talking in my head; this is the way we do it and this is why. I miss my Da everyday,but I still hear his voice telling me what is expected of me and why. Thank you sir, you have made today another good one for me.

[Jock Scot]

Thanks Jock, reading your comments was like having my Da talking in my head; this is the way we do it and this is why. I miss my Da everyday,but I still hear his voice telling me what is expected of me and why. Thank you sir, you have made today another good one for me.

Gosh! I thank you for the high complement, sir.

[dfmacliam]

Jock, I for one appreciate your insights. Many of us, claim Scot blood and can directly trace our families back to Scotland and through Scottish history. Many are descended from those who were forcibly removed from Scotland for fighting for freedom so many years ago. We have grown up in a country that is a melting pot of cultures and it's hard to follow ways that have slipped past us for reasons beyond our control. We are proud of where we come from and we want to honor the ways of our fathers, grandfathers, and so on. So to often do people just wave us off as Americans or Canadians, And feel we are taking something that does not belong to us. It did at once, but it was pried away from us.
I want to thank you for taking the time and explain things, so people can understand the current Highland way of thinking. I do appreciate your words, because you take the time to make sure the words you use are the right ones.

[jusskippy]

Within the last year or so some one designed an allegedly Jewish tartan and has been trying to market it, but I don't know how well it is catching on.

Apparently, its actually an official tartan, recognized by the Scottish Tartans Authority:

http://www.jewishtartan.com/

The ITI number is 7615. The Tartan Authority says the alternate name is Logan, which may mean that it is shared with Clan Logan, but having visited Clan Logan's website, it doesnt appear that their tartan is anything like the Jewish Tartan. Additionally, the STA lists the copyright owner as Rabbi Mendel Jacobs, which I would imagine would not be the case if it were somehow shared with a clan. It's also a very handsome tartan, so I'm definitely considering it. Unfortunately, it will increase the cost of my "tank" quite a bit.

[Bugbear]

Yes, Jock is patient about letting you know these things.