Quote Originally Posted by Ashworth View Post
Very interesting!
Thank you all for participating and giving the start of an answer to both the MacPherson question and most generally the origin of tying a Balmoral's ribbons, which I am also curious about.

So, with this information about Old Cluny, I imagine that this habit, rather than an old tradition, is mostly anchored in MacPhersons following their chief's fashion practice then, much like the British following Edward VII's habit of unbuttoning his waistcoat's last button. (Well, this one turned way more global!)
Not many MacPhersons seem to be aware of it indeed.
Old Cluny was apparently well loved by his clansmen and well respected. This was suggested as part of his being a trendsetter. When he did things, folks noticed.

It may be more common knowledge among the inner circle of the macphersons. Creagdubh was friends with the late chief Cluny and is friends with the current chieftain of the Glentruim Macphersons. It wouldn’t surprise me to find that the tradition wasn’t well known among the average clansman.