Tartan Etiquette

[Phil]

Jock, have you been out chasing the grouse?

[Jock Scot]

Hi Phil, yes indeed I have!Today and yesterday and I have just accepted a last minute invitation for tomorrow and the next day too! Its all go at the minute.

[andycwb]

I think the whole point of this thread comes down to a fairly simple observation: unless you have a clear cut case, your choice of personal tartan will come down to a combination of personal preference, local customs, and the wider etiquette of tartan choice.

In my case the three options line up. While a nth generation native-born Scot might question why I wear a tartan at all, any question about the right of Andrew Cunningham to wear the Cunningham tartan is based on hypothetical questions about what might have happened, not what is know. And I like the tartan.

To those of you where it doesn't, I recommend some intelligent thought about a choice the reflects your history, your values, and what you like. And then shorten that into a one sentence explanation of "well, my mother's god-father was a Campbell, I like wearing a kilt, and it's a gorgeous tartan" for anyone but the most persistent questioner.

[McElmurry]

Snip...

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.

Nathan, you make several good points and I would like to piggyback on the above if I may. For me, selecting a tartan meant I would be connecting past generations to future generations. In the absence of historic precedent I felt a strong obligation to get it right. While I would not personally expect future generations to follow my lead in tartan selection they may consider my decision to be precedent setting. Consequently, I acquired a fair bit of knowledge about my ancestors extending over the past 300 years before joining a clan association and selecting a tartan.

It has been a year since acquiring my kilt and I am probably not bursting at the seams anymore but woe to anyone who asks me how to select a tartan as I am loaded for bear and have a hair trigger.

[Jock Scot]

Nathan.

Thank you Nathan for your interesting post. Whilst I can see that a Clan tent at a games is likely to be a place where all these things are discussed, much of the rest that you have written just demonstrates the general differences between how the Scots do things and how Canadians, in your case, do it. It is the way it is I suppose.

[seanachie]

In the interests of peace and harmony I will refrain from debating some of the comments here. Since tartan seems to be the catalyst for so much debate, and I realize the subject of the thread is tartan etiquette, another option is to go with tweed, I have 2 kilts in tweed that are grand. And then of course you could choose a solid color kilt as well such as St. Patrick's blue or saffron. Both make very nice kilts and at the same time avoid getting in any clamor over tartan.

[TheOfficialBren]

In the interests of peace and harmony I will refrain from debating some of the comments here. Since tartan seems to be the catalyst for so much debate, and I realize the subject of the thread is tartan etiquette, another option is to go with tweed, I have 2 kilts in tweed that are grand. And then of course you could choose a solid color kilt as well such as St. Patrick's blue or saffron. Both make very nice kilts and at the same time avoid getting in any clamor over tartan.

I wouldn't mind a tweed kilt down the road. They look realy sharp.

[Pleater]

I really did not see the need for a new kilt as the kilt that I already had was perfectly adequate for any and all occasions. However two weddings in the family where I was to be a high profile participant and another important event caused the "attire committee" in my houshold to demand that I should have a new kilt. Well alright, so I now have a very smart new kilt and I am very pleased with it, but in truth I still don't think I need two kilts and I don't, I really don't, like having two kilts. And before anyone asks, no, they can't have my spare one!

Oh dear Jock - when I read this I started to chuckle. It is just so - quintessentially - well - Scottish.

May you wear whichever kilt you chose to put on in the rudest of good health.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Liam]

Oh dear Jock - when I read this I started to chuckle. It is just so - quintessentially - well - Scottish.

May you wear whichever kilt you chose to put on in the rudest of good health.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Anne... I got a chuckle out of both Jock's post and your reply.... I think Rumpole referred to his "attire committee" as "she who must be obeyed" and she should take entire responsibility for Jock new conundrum...

Cheers...Bill

[Cornet]

I love the broad range of opinion and find myself in agreement with much that has been said. There is a certain amount of politeness involved in choosing a tartan to wear. This is because there is a history of honours associated with the plaid. I have found myself in a confusing situation in the past. I am a Campbell and have a choice of tartans that I can wear as any number of items of clothing. My late husband was Macdonald, but I kept my maiden name for professional reasons. When invited to formal or ceremonial occasions, I had to decide if I was representing my father's family or my husband's family. It also would not do for us to go together, wearing different plaids. On the other hand, there have been occasions when I was guest of honour, representing myself and my works, and my husband was merely a guest. I hope this broadens the discussion, and that I hear from others who have found themselves in this situation, and how they dealt with it.