Wearing kilts of other tartans than your clans.

[David Dubh]

I am a McGowan. I wear MacDonald of The Isle Hunting ancient. I wear the MacDonald because my father said that is our clan affiliation and he wears the MacDonald clan tartan, I wanted a tartan different from his (typical son even if i'm over 40). I am considering another kilt which I would like to be red, so I am thinking either the MacDonald of the Isle red, but could I wear the Gow tartan as well? Without offending highland Scots? Jock Scot??

[Monkey@Arms]

I am a McGowan. I wear MacDonald of The Isle Hunting ancient. I wear the MacDonald because my father said that is our clan affiliation and he wears the MacDonald clan tartan, I wanted a tartan different from his (typical son even if i'm over 40). I am considering another kilt which I would like to be red, so I am thinking either the MacDonald of the Isle red, but could I wear the Gow tartan as well? Without offending highland Scots? Jock Scot??

To play the devil's advocate, you are a grown man, living in Canada, why worry about what strangers across the sea would think about the color of your clothes?

As you are no doubt aware, Gowan means blacksmith. While there are Gow and Smith tartans, I don't believe there is a "clan" directly associated with either of those tartans. You are a Gow/Smith so why not wear those tartan if you want?

Best regards,

Jake

[macwilkin]

To play the devil's advocate, you are a grown man, living in Canada, why worry about what strangers across the sea would think about the color of your clothes?

Jake,

Respectfully, because without those "strangers across the sea", there would be no kilts or Highland attire. Some of us view them not as strangers, but as friends and family, and are thankful of them sharing the kilt and tartan with those of us whose ancestors left Scotland so many years ago.

Regards,

Todd

[Bugbear]

Jake,

Respectfully, because without those "strangers across the sea", there would be no kilts or Highland attire. Some of us view them not as strangers, but as friends and family, and are thankful of them sharing the kilt and tartan with those of us whose ancestors left Scotland so many years ago.

Regards,

Todd

I've tried to do my best to limit myself to a single tartan, though I do not have any real connection to a true clan. Unfortunatly, it hasn't worked out so well. I have, though, noticed that one does not always know how offencive these things are, or even that they are offencive to the Scottish people. I don't have a traditional kilt yet, and, on and off, I've questioned whether I should go down that path.

* Edit: to clarify, from my reading here and on the Scottish Tartans Museum web site, I was not aware of the tradition of only wearing one tartan and the offence multiple tartans can cause. I became aware of this after I purchased the two non-traditional kilts in two different tartans, so it was too late. I will try to stay with one tartan in the future. *

[David Dubh]

Thanks for the info Jock. I hadn't realised that picking a diiferent tartan within the same clan could be construed as rejecting my fathers clan. I certainly had never thought that I was doing that I will be more carefull when I choose my next tartan if indeed I do go for another kilt.

[Laird O'the Cowcaddens]

Thanks Jock, reading your comments was like having my Da talking in my head; this is the way we do it and this is why. I miss my Da everyday,but I still hear his voice telling me what is expected of me and why. Thank you sir, you have made today another good one for me.

[Jock Scot]

Thanks Jock, reading your comments was like having my Da talking in my head; this is the way we do it and this is why. I miss my Da everyday,but I still hear his voice telling me what is expected of me and why. Thank you sir, you have made today another good one for me.

Gosh! I thank you for the high complement, sir.

[Jock Scot]

I am a McGowan. I wear MacDonald of The Isle Hunting ancient. I wear the MacDonald because my father said that is our clan affiliation and he wears the MacDonald clan tartan, I wanted a tartan different from his (typical son even if i'm over 40). I am considering another kilt which I would like to be red, so I am thinking either the MacDonald of the Isle red, but could I wear the Gow tartan as well? Without offending highland Scots? Jock Scot??

Thank you for asking.The problem with offending the Highlanders you either catch a "broadside" of abuse(rarely) and a black eye(even more rarely), or far more likely, you may never ever discover that any offence has been given, or, not until 20 years later you may be stuck in a ditch and the only tow rope in the county will suddenly be "lost"! I kid you not.

As clan histories are everyday currency(in a very low key way) in the highlands we have a fair idea when to steer a conversation away from tricky ground,BUT WE DON'T KNOW EVERYONE!!! So we stick to one tartan(its cheaper too) and then we can at least know most of that clan and tartan's history and then we know when to keep quiet! It just is best to stick to one clan tartan.

For you to wear a MacDonald tartan ,but not the same as your father is OK,but it is considered as a very public rejection of your father's clan. Don't forget that there are, perhaps, very bitter memories within a clan, never mind between different clans. I am not sure of the Gow history, but in the highlands you would expect to wear your father's tartan and that would be that. There is nothing to stop you wearing the Gow tartan, it you wish, though.

Please don't runaway with the idea that the highlands is still a seething mass of clan warfare and rivalries. It is not, and it is to the credit of the Scots of today, that nearly all that nastiness is well in the past,we don't forget though and nor should we. Most of the trouble, these days, comes from the ignorant, the arrogant, the drunk and the non Scots who have been brought up with the "biscuit tin" history of the travel industry who have thrived on selling misconceptions and half truths.