Wearing a clans tartan

[Anthony]

Riverkilt, thanks for that link to the "Bastards" site, I hadn't heard of them and I would like to know about blood line.

[macwilkin]

Several years ago I wrote the Clan Muir Society and asked them for their permission for to wear their tartan, since I am a seasonal US National Park Ranger, and one supporter of our National Park System was Scotsman John Muir. The Society's secretary enthusiastically responded "yes" to my request -- although I have not been able to do so yet, I would imagine that "yes" still stands.

Bottom line: There is no "right" to wear a particular tartan, save "restricted" tartans such as the Balmoral Tartan and some clan/family tartans wear you must by the material from the Chief and/or society and prove descent. Thompson says:

The dictionary definition of rights lists three kinds: legal, moral and divine (as in "the divine right of kings.") Since it has never been suggested that any use of the tartan is illegal, immoral and ungodly, it is meaningless to talk about anybody's right to any tartan.

A connection to a tartan, however large or small, is better than no connection at all, but even no connection to a tartan is not "wrong" either. Again, bottom line: if you have the connection, and like the tartan, then wear it. I would recommend joining the Clan Society (if there is one) of the tartan you are wearing -- most clan societies, save a few, allow anyone to join, regardless of "blood" -- and that is what many clans in days of old practiced anyway.

My father's family are also Irish. County Tyrone, hence my use of Jer "Mc" as a screen name.

I used to hear this a lot when I worked as a genealogy librarian, but "Mac v. Mc" defining whether one was Scottish or Irish is pure myth. "Mc" is an abbreviation of "Mac", plain and simple, and sometimes you even see M ' as the abbreviation -- nothing more than the product of a lazy clerk or immigration officer! :mrgreen: You find Macs and Mcs in both Scotland and Ireland.

Cheers,

T.

[macwilkin]

Several years ago I wrote the Clan Muir Society and asked them for their permission for to wear their tartan, since I am a seasonal US National Park Ranger, and one supporter of our National Park System was Scotsman John Muir. The Society's secretary enthusiastically responded "yes" to my request -- although I have not been able to do so yet, I would imagine that "yes" still stands.

Bottom line: There is no "right" to wear a particular tartan, save "restricted" tartans such as the Balmoral Tartan and some clan/family tartans wear you must by the material from the Chief and/or society and prove descent. Thompson says:

The dictionary definition of rights lists three kinds: legal, moral and divine (as in "the divine right of kings.") Since it has never been suggested that any use of the tartan is illegal, immoral and ungodly, it is meaningless to talk about anybody's right to any tartan.

A connection to a tartan, however large or small, is better than no connection at all, but even no connection to a tartan is not "wrong" either. Again, bottom line: if you have the connection, and like the tartan, then wear it. I would recommend joining the Clan Society (if there is one) of the tartan you are wearing -- most clan societies, save a few, allow anyone to join, regardless of "blood" -- and that is what many clans in days of old practiced anyway.

My father's family are also Irish. County Tyrone, hence my use of Jer "Mc" as a screen name.

I used to hear this a lot when I worked as a genealogy librarian, but "Mac v. Mc" defining whether one was Scottish or Irish is pure myth. "Mc" is an abbreviation of "Mac", plain and simple, and sometimes you even see M ' as the abbreviation -- nothing more than the product of a lazy clerk or immigration officer! :mrgreen: You find Macs and Mcs in both Scotland and Ireland.

Cheers,

T.

[macwilkin]

Several years ago I wrote the Clan Muir Society and asked them for their permission for to wear their tartan, since I am a seasonal US National Park Ranger, and one supporter of our National Park System was Scotsman John Muir. The Society's secretary enthusiastically responded "yes" to my request -- although I have not been able to do so yet, I would imagine that "yes" still stands.

Bottom line: There is no "right" to wear a particular tartan, save "restricted" tartans such as the Balmoral Tartan and some clan/family tartans wear you must by the material from the Chief and/or society and prove descent. Thompson says:

The dictionary definition of rights lists three kinds: legal, moral and divine (as in "the divine right of kings.") Since it has never been suggested that any use of the tartan is illegal, immoral and ungodly, it is meaningless to talk about anybody's right to any tartan.

A connection to a tartan, however large or small, is better than no connection at all, but even no connection to a tartan is not "wrong" either. Again, bottom line: if you have the connection, and like the tartan, then wear it. I would recommend joining the Clan Society (if there is one) of the tartan you are wearing -- most clan societies, save a few, allow anyone to join, regardless of "blood" -- and that is what many clans in days of old practiced anyway.

My father's family are also Irish. County Tyrone, hence my use of Jer "Mc" as a screen name.

I used to hear this a lot when I worked as a genealogy librarian, but "Mac v. Mc" defining whether one was Scottish or Irish is pure myth. "Mc" is an abbreviation of "Mac", plain and simple, and sometimes you even see M ' as the abbreviation -- nothing more than the product of a lazy clerk or immigration officer! :mrgreen: You find Macs and Mcs in both Scotland and Ireland.

Cheers,

T.

[Highlander775]

For what it's worth,through my research,I've learned that Clan Tartans are a relatively recent invention.Prior to the 19th century(Victorian Era)a clan wore whatever tartan that was most affordable for their Chieftan.The first "officially" recognized tartan was "Government Sett" or "BlackWatch" tartan.This was easy to see since the wearing of the kilt was illegal in the Highlands under the "Disarming Acts" after the Jacobite defeat at Culloden in 1746.The "Government Sett" however was worn by the Black Watch and other highland independent companies who were in the service of the crown and acted as a highland constabulary.The right to wear the kilt again for highlanders not serving in the British Army did not happen until after the American Revolution when the Highlanders had distinguished themselves in that war and the French & Indian War. 8)




"Bringing History To Life"

[Highlander775]

For what it's worth,through my research,I've learned that Clan Tartans are a relatively recent invention.Prior to the 19th century(Victorian Era)a clan wore whatever tartan that was most affordable for their Chieftan.The first "officially" recognized tartan was "Government Sett" or "BlackWatch" tartan.This was easy to see since the wearing of the kilt was illegal in the Highlands under the "Disarming Acts" after the Jacobite defeat at Culloden in 1746.The "Government Sett" however was worn by the Black Watch and other highland independent companies who were in the service of the crown and acted as a highland constabulary.The right to wear the kilt again for highlanders not serving in the British Army did not happen until after the American Revolution when the Highlanders had distinguished themselves in that war and the French & Indian War. 8)




"Bringing History To Life"

[Highlander775]

For what it's worth,through my research,I've learned that Clan Tartans are a relatively recent invention.Prior to the 19th century(Victorian Era)a clan wore whatever tartan that was most affordable for their Chieftan.The first "officially" recognized tartan was "Government Sett" or "BlackWatch" tartan.This was easy to see since the wearing of the kilt was illegal in the Highlands under the "Disarming Acts" after the Jacobite defeat at Culloden in 1746.The "Government Sett" however was worn by the Black Watch and other highland independent companies who were in the service of the crown and acted as a highland constabulary.The right to wear the kilt again for highlanders not serving in the British Army did not happen until after the American Revolution when the Highlanders had distinguished themselves in that war and the French & Indian War. 8)




"Bringing History To Life"

[mcnice]

as the tartans had been designed just after the hipe from queen victoria II around 1830, they are not really the patterns worn by the high time of clan system during middle age or renaissance.

i feel that there are just to many nice looking tartans that we would not give a good service to kilt wearing if we don t wore them.
this concerns especially non-scots who only would have the right to wear non clan related tartans.

the author of an interetsing book wrote that the scots are much to proud of their history and sensible with their traditions, that they would never allow the mainstream abuse of tartans if they really had been historical ;)

[mcnice]

as the tartans had been designed just after the hipe from queen victoria II around 1830, they are not really the patterns worn by the high time of clan system during middle age or renaissance.

i feel that there are just to many nice looking tartans that we would not give a good service to kilt wearing if we don t wore them.
this concerns especially non-scots who only would have the right to wear non clan related tartans.

the author of an interetsing book wrote that the scots are much to proud of their history and sensible with their traditions, that they would never allow the mainstream abuse of tartans if they really had been historical ;)

[mcnice]

as the tartans had been designed just after the hipe from queen victoria II around 1830, they are not really the patterns worn by the high time of clan system during middle age or renaissance.

i feel that there are just to many nice looking tartans that we would not give a good service to kilt wearing if we don t wore them.
this concerns especially non-scots who only would have the right to wear non clan related tartans.

the author of an interetsing book wrote that the scots are much to proud of their history and sensible with their traditions, that they would never allow the mainstream abuse of tartans if they really had been historical ;)