Tartan at the Highland Games

[MacMillans son]

I would NEVER wear another clan at a clan function. It's just that sometimes clan organizations are being represented at the Highland games and I wondered would it be in bad taste to wear another clan in that type of environment or if the ol "wear what you please" rule would allow it?

Ah, that's where we may differ a bit I think. I consider the games as a clan function attended by multiple clans, so I attend those, figuratively, as a representative of my clan. If you perceive them as something different, as some others here do, then I guess the "wear what you please" mindset applies. So perhaps your perception of the games is what needs to be clarified, and then you can act according to your beliefs. As is evidenced by the variety of posts here, not all of us perceive the games in the same way.

Regardless of what you decide, I hope you have a great time!

[seanachie]

Ah, that's where we may differ a bit I think. I consider the games as a clan function attended by multiple clans, so I attend those, figuratively, as a representative of my clan. If you perceive them as something different, as some others here do, then I guess the "wear what you please" mindset applies. So perhaps your perception of the games is what needs to be clarified, and then you can act according to your beliefs. As is evidenced by the variety of posts here, not all of us perceive the games in the same way.

Regardless of what you decide, I hope you have a great time!

Brooke..I would presume, though, if I don't have a clan tartan you would be OK with a Universal tartan? I do understand it is a clan function and a sense of what that means but hopefully would not offend anyone's sensibilities. In my collection I have a Capercaillie and Highland Cathedral that are both wonderful kilts (sewn by John Hart (Keltoi)).

[MacMillans son]

Brooke..I would presume, though, if I don't have a clan tartan you would be OK with a Universal tartan? I do understand it is a clan function and a sense of what that means but hopefully would not offend anyone's sensibilities. In my collection I have a Capercaillie and Highland Cathedral that are both wonderful kilts (sewn by John Hart (Keltoi)).

Absolutely Seanachie. I too have kilts in universal tartans (Auld Scotland) and Irish district tartans (Counties Cavan and Kerry). I do however have the benefit of owning a variety of MacMillan tartan kilts as well. I don't begrudge anyone wearing what ever they have or want, but given an option, I will usually choose to wear my clan tartan when amongst other clans and their members. With that said, I did wear my County Cavan kilt to the second day of the combined RenFaire/Scottish games earlier this year in Watsonville. I felt more comfortable doing so at that event due to it's diluted focus.

I don't want to give the impression that I have a strong attachment to what others do or wear at the games. I certainly have my own preferences and reasons for them, and I assume others do as well. I guess I am somewhat like those Jock describes in Scotland, if you are wearing a certain clan tartan I assume you have some justification for doing so, and would not question you about it. I think the only place a person may run into any difficulty would be with an idiot at the beer tent mid afternoon

Cheers,
Brooke