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  1. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jock Scot View Post
    Antipodean Celt.

    I have to confess that I am somewhat nonplussed at your post. Not upset I hasten to add. In real life, out on the street do you tell complete strangers the intimate details of your pedigree? Well not me or my friends and acquaintances do and I suspect not many out in the wide world do either. Its not that there is anything to be ashamed of, possibly there is a lot to be very proud of, but these are private matters that just do not in my experience get talked about with strangers. Normally.

    Now a website such as this is slightly removed from the world on the street and does allow people to ask questions even quite personal ones without criticism with like minded members, and helpful, I had hoped, answers given . I am sorry that you have read into my reply given here a few posts ago something that I certainly did not intend, but I hope on reflection that you can see the difference between a website and the world on the street.

    Frankly I do find it very odd that complete strangers from outwith Scotland(I have never had such a conversation with a Scot) come up to me-----and others------ and want to discuss in detail their ancestry, does it not occur to them that I/we may have other things to do with our time? However, they are nice people generally and I do try to at least give them a few minutes (hours sometimes!) and as I think I have said before, I do not begrudge them my time because they are nice people.
    Jock,

    I think this is a valuable perspective to keep in mind. In the interest of international cultural understanding, I should mention that among diaspora Scots, one's ancestry is a very common conversation. It is how we find things in common. Usually when a person is kilted here, they are at a Scottish event like a Highland Games. When I work the Clan Donald society tent, I spend the whole day talking to people (Donald and others) about their ancestry and helping them to identify the likely tartan(s) with which they and their family are most closely associated.

    Further, in Cape Breton, we're on an Island with a lot of very common last names (MacDonald, Gillis, MacNeil, Chaisson, Cameron, Campbell etc...) so a discussion of ancestry is a valuable (essential) way to determine if a possible romantic interest is, in fact, a cousin. So again, geneology is an open and common discussion.

    I often have people ask me if it's appropriate to wear the tartan of their maiden name when they marry into another Clan or whether it's appropriate to wear the tartan of their maternal grandmother as their only Highland ancestor etc...

    People usually have to reveal some things about themselves in order to frame these enquiries. As we all know, there are shelves and shelves of "clan tartan" books and "sept" lists which endeavour to link names with tartans. Given that context, I think it's completely understandable that people deduce the need to justify their connection to a particular set.

    As an aside, I invited a Macdonald man to march with me in the clan parade this weekend at the Fergus Highland Games. They have a rule that Highland attire was required to march with the clans. He rushed off to purchase his son a kilt so the boy too could march with us and the child arrived in a brand new Black Watch tartan kilt.

    The Campbell clansman (from somewhere in Scotland) in front of us turned around and said, "Oh look, the young Macdonald lad is wearing Campbell! Good boy!"

    It was a good natured tease, but the colour drained from the father's face briefly before being replaced with a bright red.

    I don't say this because I disagree with anything that you said, and you likely have heard all of this before. I just thought I'd point out that among diaspora Scots, ancestry, geneology, clan feud history and tartan are the main conversations at these events. We don't talk about how good the stalking or salmon fishing is around Fort William, for example, because most of us have never been there, and if we have, we were visiting historic sites of battles, museums, grave yards and distilleries or trying to track down...our ancestry.

    This context of diaspora Scottish culture in general should explain why people feel the need to connect themselves to a clan or family or tartan from the Auld sod and why they like to share what they have learned with anyone they assume (rightly or wrongly) might share their interest. The tourists you meet are likely at the height of their personal interest and research into such matters and bursting to tell anyone who will listen about it.

    Addendum: Discussing ancestry is also a strong Gaelic trait. The first question someone (especially an older person) asks in Cape Breton when they meet a new local is, "What's your father's name?" or "Which Mac_______ are you?". In fact, this trait is the basis of the clan system and patronymic Highland family names (being called after a significant paternal ancestor) and prior to surnames, the Gael would list more than one ancestor to explain exactly who he was.

    Consider my High Chief's sloinneadh: Gorraidh Seumais mac Alasdair Gorraidh mhic Gorraidh Eòghann 'ic Ragnhaill 'ic Gorraidh Uilleam 'ic Gorraidh 'ic Alasdair 'ic Alasdair 'ic Seumais 'ic Domhnaill Breac 'ic Seumais Mhor 'ic Domhnaill Gorm Og 'ic Gilleasbuig Cleirich 'ic Domhnaill 'ic Domhnaill Gorm 'ic Domhnaill Gruamach 'ic Domhnaill Gallach 'ic Uisdean 'ic Alasdair 'ic Domhnaill 'ic Eoin 'ic Aonghais Og 'ic Aonghais Mhor 'ic Domhnaill 'ic Ragnhaill 'ic Somhairle.

    The sloinneadh was not just reserved for chiefs. Mine is Natan Easbaig mac Daniel Ualraig mhic Ioseph Ualraig 'ic Aongais I. 'ic Iain 'ic Aongais 'ic Callum Dhòmhnaillach.
    Last edited by Nathan; 13th August 13 at 11:45 AM. Reason: Addendum 8)
    Natan Easbaig Mac Dhòmhnaill, FSA Scot
    Past High Commissioner, Clan Donald Canada
    “Yet still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland, And we, in dreams, behold the Hebrides.” - The Canadian Boat Song.

  2. The Following 3 Users say 'Aye' to Nathan For This Useful Post:


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