Wearing kilts of other tartans than your clans.

[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.

[xena]

Well, it's often been said that you don't have to be Scottish to wear a kilt, anymore than you have to be a cowboy to wear blue jeans. There are numerous universal tartans that one can wear without fear of rebuke.

Plus, many hold the idea that wearing the tartan does not necessarily mean to imply that you are claiming membership in that clan. Only if they explicitly claim to be a member of a clan, and aren't, well, then they're a bit "Walter Mitty"ish. But it's like wearing a sports jersey. Wearing it doesn't mean to everyone who sees you that you're a professional sportsman; it just means you're a fan. So it seems that you could be able to wear a clan tartan as a "fan" of sorts. Just have the courtesy to know what clan tartan you're wearing and perhaps some of it's history, and you should be okay.

As well, any military connection is allowed without question. I was a member of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, and I would be surprised - no shocked, really - if any member of the MacKenzie clan had the audacity to question my right to wear that tartan. Plus, I was also a member of 2 RCR for a while, and that battalion was created out of an amalgamation of the 1st and 3rd battalions of the Black Watch and some Guards regiments in the early '70's. So, even though that tartan is universal, I wear it knowing I have connection to it (albeit convoluted).

So, my not-so-humble opinion is that you should be able to wear whatever you want (except the privately owned and protected patterns {like the balmoral tartan} - but don't worry to much, reputable kilt dealers won't even sell them to you, so you're unlikely to accidentally get one of those). Just, if you're wearing a clan tartan, and you're not actually a member of said clan, admit it, and say that you're a "fan" of the tartan - that's all.

[Jock Scot]

Mods could you delete post 109 (mine) on this thread, as it only contains half of what I was trying to say. Gremlins have struck I am afraid. Sorry.

[dfmacliam]

Jock, I for one appreciate your insights. Many of us, claim Scot blood and can directly trace our families back to Scotland and through Scottish history. Many are descended from those who were forcibly removed from Scotland for fighting for freedom so many years ago. We have grown up in a country that is a melting pot of cultures and it's hard to follow ways that have slipped past us for reasons beyond our control. We are proud of where we come from and we want to honor the ways of our fathers, grandfathers, and so on. So to often do people just wave us off as Americans or Canadians, And feel we are taking something that does not belong to us. It did at once, but it was pried away from us.
I want to thank you for taking the time and explain things, so people can understand the current Highland way of thinking. I do appreciate your words, because you take the time to make sure the words you use are the right ones.

[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.

[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?