Wearing kilts of other tartans than your clans.

[Swampthing]

Clan affiliations with tartan is quite a recent thing, and completely unnecessary.
I wear a Buchanan, and a Macleod of Harris in my band.
But I do plan to get a Thompson camel and a Thompson gray,
1) because I like them and 2) because MacTavish is my clan.

The traditional thing to do is wear what you like, or what you can afford.

[JSFMACLJR]

The traditional thing to do is wear what you like, or what you can afford.

No, the traditional thing to do is to wear your clan tartan, or barring that, a district tartan.

[Swampthing]

No, the traditional thing to do is to wear your clan tartan, or barring that, a district tartan.

I suppose that is true for the mindset of most in the modern world, a new tradition of clan tartans is real, in a sense.
But it stems from misconceptions and myths, and therefore, though it may be a tradition, it's one for the ill-informed.

I also suppose that it was not actually a tradition in the old days, but rather, a trend and consequently, a custom.

You really should have a look at albanach.org, scottishtartans.org, kiltmaker.blogspot.com, or simply speak to Mr. Matthew A.C. Newsome, of the Scottish tartans museum, he's very good with that stuff.

Please note that I have nothing against you, or am arguing with you, it's just that this notion of clan tartans being ancient and all simply isn't true.

[macwilkin]

I suppose that is true for the mindset of most in the modern world, a new tradition of clan tartans is real, in a sense.
But it stems from misconceptions and myths, and therefore, though it may be a tradition, it's one for the ill-informed.

I also suppose that it was not actually a tradition in the old days, but rather, a trend and consequently, a custom.

You really should have a look at albanach.org, scottishtartans.org, kiltmaker.blogspot.com, or simply speak to Mr. Matthew A.C. Newsome, of the Scottish tartans museum, he's very good with that stuff.

Please note that I have nothing against you, or am arguing with you, it's just that this notion of clan tartans being ancient and all simply isn't true.

Matt will be the first to tell you, though, that even though the concept of clan tartans does not have an ancient pedigree, enough time has passed to make it a de facto tradition, and one to be respected. While I agree 100% that clan tartans have not been handed down through the mists of antiquity, to simply dismiss someone having pride in their clan's tartan as "ill-informed" just doesn't seem cricket. If it's not for you, then great. For some, there is very powerful symbolism behind their tartans.

Matt is a member and frequent contributor here, btw. I'm also the proud owner of one of his kilts in the Iowa tartan, which although designed in 2003, has very special significance for me, as it honours my family who immigrated there.

regards,

Todd

[Kiltman]

In the last few years there has been research done into the DNA of the British Isles. The result is that if you have any British Isle in you, you have it all. Not a big surprise. I agree with Matt and others that you should wear what you wish.

[Bugbear]

... I agree with Matt and others that you should wear what you wish.

That is not what I seem to be hearing from the Scottish and Traditionalist members of the forum. Rather, that one should only wear or have one tartan, and to do otherwise is disrespectful, possibly insulting.

I don't know..., but I have rethought the advice "wear the tartan you like" in relation to traditional kilts because of this.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I suppose that is true for the mindset of most in the modern world, a new tradition of clan tartans is real, in a sense.
But it stems from misconceptions and myths, and therefore, though it may be a tradition, it's one for the ill-informed.

As one of those now charcterized as "ill-informed", perhaps you could enlighten me (and others) as to precisely how long it takes for a trend, or a custom, to become an established tradition? I would have thought that the more-or-less 185 years that we Scots have identified specific tartans with specific clans would have constituted "a tradition". Where have I erred?

[JSFMACLJR]

post deleted

[gilmore]

I suppose that is true for the mindset of most in the modern world, a new tradition of clan tartans is real, in a sense.
But it stems from misconceptions and myths, and therefore, though it may be a tradition, it's one for the ill-informed.

I also suppose that it was not actually a tradition in the old days, but rather, a trend and consequently, a custom.

You really should have a look at albanach.org, scottishtartans.org, kiltmaker.blogspot.com, or simply speak to Mr. Matthew A.C. Newsome, of the Scottish tartans museum, he's very good with that stuff.

Please note that I have nothing against you, or am arguing with you, it's just that this notion of clan tartans being ancient and all simply isn't true.

I always find it amusing that people who claim that the pedigree of clan tartans isn't old usually can't trace their own pedigree to half that age.

[Bugbear]

I always find it amusing that people who claim that the pedrigree of clan tartans isn't old usually can't trace their own pedigree to half that age.

Or it's been made up and stretched to wear the tartan someone wants to wear because they like the way it looks.