balmoral

[beloitpiper]

MacWage has got it pretty good, but I was always told to keep your ribbons loose if you're single and tied in a bow if you're married.

[MacWage]

MacWage has got it pretty good, but I was always told to keep your ribbons loose if you're single and tied in a bow if you're married.

Also:
Loose: Highlander
Tied: Lowlander
Or reverse of those 2-> about same times both ways

Tied: Civilian
Loose: Military

Tied: Jacobite
Loose: Hanovarian
And also heard the reverse

Tied: Underwear
Loose: Regimental
(That is NOT made up by me!!! I was ACTAULLY told that VERY explicitly at a games before!)

In end, I think it is a matter of personal feeling,and I've heard nothing consistant on any real "meaning" one way or the other.
The most logical-> tied=old-style/auld school

[McClef]

I think that sums up the tied/untied confusion very well MacWage!

I have mine loose and I can't offhand think of seeing them tied.

I have heard other versions based on positioning such as if you wear them so they go around the neck and fall at the front. If they go to the left you are a Catholic and if to the right you are a Protestant.

Or maybe that was the other way round too!

[Monkey@Arms]

Also:
Loose: Highlander
Tied: Lowlander
Or reverse of those 2-> about same times both ways

Tied: Civilian
Loose: Military

Tied: Jacobite
Loose: Hanovarian
And also heard the reverse

Tied: Underwear
Loose: Regimental
(That is NOT made up by me!!! I was ACTAULLY told that VERY explicitly at a games before!)

In end, I think it is a matter of personal feeling,and I've heard nothing consistant on any real "meaning" one way or the other.
The most logical-> tied=old-style/auld school

So lets see a tied ribbon means you're a married lowland civilian confused underwear wearing kilter. Ach, these "experts" and "tartan police" with their made-up rules will be the death of us yet.

Best regards,

Jake

[Panache]

So lets see a tied ribbon means you're a married lowland civilian confused underwear wearing kilter. Ach, these "experts" and "tartan police" with their made-up rules will be the death of us yet.

Best regards,

Jake

So Jake,

What does it mean if you wear one of the ribbons tied in a bow and leave the other loose?

Cheers

[A Hay]

I just received a dark green balmoral from Ian@glengarryhats.com. It is a nice color and fits well.
Also have the Canadian Khaki, which is more of a brown, from him. On this one I cut off the ribbons and wear it with a leather jacket for a more contemporary look.

Finally, I have a Lovat Green balmoral, don't remember from whom I bought it.
On this one I tied a bow in the back and sewed it in place.

I think for the new green one I might leave the tails free, like Golly the Gillie on Monarch of the Glen.

Next one might be a dark blue to go with the X Marks kilt.

Tom

[bubba]

Personally, I like mine blowing free rather than tied. I guess it's all just a matter of personal preference.

[Nanook]

Tied: Civilian
Loose: Military

The Balmorals that were issued and worn in the army don't have ribbons to hang. The Glengarry bonnets have ribbons but they are not to be tied. The standard Black Watch Balmoral pattern as issued has neither a rosette at the front nor ribbons at the rear but a kind of micro-rosette at the rear. Most of the Balmorals I've seen that have ribbons have tended to be cheap grade bonnets (more often than not, made offshore). Military Balmorals tend not to have a rosette but a backing tartan and a badge (the Black watch have neither) and so would look strange with a large rosette bow at the rear (which is what tied ribbons are really about). This might be why most regiments wear the Glengarry style of hat :-)