Wearing kilts of other tartans than your clans.

[Bugbear]

Sorry, Jock.

[Bugbear]

Just to help Nighthawk out a little... I think he is talking about the belted plaid blending in with the forest, and that is discussed at Matt Newsome's web site, I believe.

Where Nighthawk goes off course is in assuming that historical practices translate into tradition. The belted plaid is not traditional, nor is choosing a tartan by fashion; rather it was a historical practice.

As I understand the term "traditional" to mean, as defined by the traditionalists on the forum, a tradition must be an historical practice that has continued into the here and now without interuption and very little change. It is a bit different than historical revival or reenactment, which is Nighthawk's angle on this.

I'm only pointing out where the miscommunication is; I'm not trying to argue either point.

[Bugbear]

Team colors?

I suppose...

[Bugbear]

I looked over at Matt Newsome's web site. He quotes "George Buchanan's history of Scotland published in 1581," in the article, "The Early History of the Kilt," which says:


Their ancestors wore plaids of many colours, and numbers still retain this custom but the majority now in their dress prefer a dark brown, imitating nearly
the leaves of the heather, that when lying upon the heath in the day, they may not be discovered by the appearance of their clothes; in these wrapped rather
than covered, they brave the severest storms in the open air, and sometimes lay themselves down to sleep even in the midst of snow.

However, Matt Newsome goes on to point out that this does not specifically
refer to the belted plaid, and it predates the first known record of the belted plaid in 1594.

The linked to article is a good read and gives a better context for all this.

[The Barry]

Steady boys! Steady!

For me, I won't wear a tartan that I don't have a connection with. I'm a Douglas, so when I wear tartan, I wear Douglas. I also wear the Irish National, to celebrate the Irish heritage in my family. But you won't find me wearing another family's tartan. Not judging those that do (especially those without clan affiliation), but it's not for me.

[BassClefB]

I am currently in the process of saving for a kilt in my family's tartan (Lamont), but I do wear kilts of other tartans for reasons that are specific to me. Whether they are warranted by 'traditionalists', I don't know. I wear a Black Stewart because two of my dearest friends in life are Stewarts and are practically family. They are both groomsmen/bridesmaids in my upcoming wedding, and I honor their presence in my life by wearing the Stewart tartan. I wear an Irish National kilt on occasion because my Irish lineage is very strong and traceable very far back on my mother's side. I wear the Black Watch because it is considered for the most part to be 'universal', and because it is the only heavyweight wool kilt I own, and I wear it for practical reasons in cold weather. Now, with that said, I do wear a Weathered MacKenzie because I like the look of the tartan. With that said, I would never wear any of the kilts that do not have a firm link to my heritage to any function where the wearing of another tartan than my own may be considered 'offensive'. I have researched the history and lineage of the MacKenzie tartan so I can offer insight if someone asks.

If I had not chosen to wear a tartan other than my own when I decided to try wearing kilts, I must say I probably would not have dug so far into my own family's history and learned as much as I have in the process. The thought of ordering a custom made kilt in my family tartan never occurred to me a few years ago, but now it is essential to me! The wearing of kilts and the wisdom of this community in my education about it all has given me a renewed sense of place, family, and appreciation for the area in which I live (which is steeped in Scot/Irish lineage) and the connections I have with my family and others who share the appreciation for Highland culture.

[Jock Scot]

English Bloke.

What I was trying to say, was that in the highlands and in the highlanders minds, due to our upbringing, we think about tartans and more importantly the clan in a fairly singular way. I was trying to get the "rest of the world" to understand how I(we), in the land and home of the kilt view things. I hoped and I think I may have succeeded in a small way in getting that message across, to some. The Highland Scots cannot make anyone see our point of view and most certainly I(we) cannot make people only wear one tartan, all I(we) can do is try to educate others to bear our point of view in mind. Besides, we are far too polite to take visitors to task anyway,so worry not!

Wear your MacLeod tartan kilt by all means(have a look at JS's pictures in "his threads"!),all I (we) am asking for, is for people to be aware of the highland way of doing things and not made to feel,by some (not you by the way!), that it is rather an inconvenient fact that the kilt is highland Scots attire. It can get very tiresome, sometimes verging on arrogance, when a "foreigner" tries to tell us how to wear the the kilt and how we should or should not react to matters of kilt tradition and convention.Is all this, earth shatteringly important? Well, no it is not.

[BassClefB]

I for one have appreciated reading your insights, JS. I must say that if I am fortunate enough to set foot in Scotland in a year or two, the only kilt on my body will be my Lamont... for the very reasons you spoke of. The conventions are a little more 'loose' here in the States. Cheers to you for sharing the more widly-held Scottish viewpoints on the matter.

English Bloke.

What I was trying to say, was that in the highlands and in the highlanders minds, due to our upbringing, we think about tartans and more importantly the clan in a fairly singular way. I was trying to get the "rest of the world" to understand how I(we), in the land and home of the kilt view things. I hoped and I think I may have succeeded in a small way in getting that message across, to some. The Highland Scots cannot make anyone see our point of view and most certainly I(we) cannot make people only wear one tartan, all I(we) can do is try to educate others to bear our point of view in mind. Besides, we are far too polite to take visitors to task anyway,so worry not!

Wear your MacLeod tartan kilt by all means(have a look at JS's pictures in "his threads"!),all I (we) am asking for, is for people to be aware of the highland way of doing things and not made to feel,by some (not you by the way!), that it is rather an inconvenient fact that the kilt is highland Scots attire. It can get very tiresome, sometimes verging on arrogance, when a "foreigner" tries to tell us how to wear the the kilt and how we should or should not react to matters of kilt tradition and convention.Is all this, earth shatteringly important? Well, no it is not.

[Nighthawk]

Me personally, I stick to tartans of clans that I have some tie to. I wear the Black Stewart because my great grandfather and uncle (however many "greats" are required) were Jacobites. I wear the Colorado because I love my home. I wear a saffron because there are Leddy's and Kiltpatrick's in my family line. I will soon be getting a MacLeod of Harris because that's where my grandmother's side of the family is from. I have an Albannach because... well... I'm a huge fan of the band, and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I have a SWK Nightstalker because (A) I like it and ( B) it's not clan affiliated. So yes, when it comes to tartans, I stick to either blood ties or regional ties, or I get universal non clan tartans. It's not because I have a problem wearing other clan tartans, it just seems to my mind to be a matter of good etiquet.

[Colonel MacNeal]

I tried to ask permission from the Clan Chattan association to wear MacQueen, but they told me there was nobody with any MacQueen authority to ask.