Quote Originally Posted by Troglodyte View Post
Two things will come from this, as I see it. One will be a disappointing turn-out for the clan's proper Gathering, for the Americans, who normally make up good numbers, will be absent; and the the Americans will get entirely the wrong impression of how the clan functions at home in Scotland - if it is seen to function at all.

It's all a bit puzzling to us.

Did we upset or disappoint our American kin so much last time that they now no longer want to come to our Gatherings, or have they got so fed up with waiting for the finished programme of events to be announced that they have gone off and done their own thing?

Our association has always operated as a kind of clan-themed history society, with its traditions, culture and historical legacy being the main motivation. Pageant has never had a place, and the local Highland games are usually enough to satisfy needs in this direction. As regards tartan, the romantic nonsense that surrounds all that has always been well-understood, and, officially, the association only encourages the wearing - it is by no means obligatory - and only a small proportion actually do.

Other than having pipers to provide thrilling sound at the opening, and sometimes a ceilidh on the last evening, we have nothing in the way of parade or performance. Our way is to have displays, exhibitions, talks and demonstrations on such topics as recent archaeological findings at the castle, the latest from the DNA project, and suchlike.

But I am keen to see what our American cousins get up to, when they have no natives around to spoil their fun.
I wonder if the American group is even aware that you are holding a different gathering? Is that something that has even been mentioned? Have the American group's leaders been asked why they have organized their own events? I suspect that the average member of the American Society wouldn't even think that their event wasn't the same as the Clan's.

As for pageantry, if the Americans are used to seeing that at home I can also see why paying the thousands of dollars to visit Scotland and getting much more subdued displays and archeological talks would be a let down. It might even be so subdued that they don't recognize it as a celebration at all.

This is all speculation, of course.