Feathers in your cap

[Downunder Kilt]

From previous threads on the wearing of eagle feathers in the USA, I believe that it is illegal to possess parts of certain animals, birds etc unless you have permission from the relevent Federal Department. Reference was made to the CITES convention. Using the search facility will bring up the previous threads.

Hope this helps in your quest

[Cygnus]

yes I got had up about having pheasant feathers in my hat years ago, told to take them out as I'd get in trouble with the lord lyon... I have a booklet somewhere that gives the impression that the lord lyon has no durastriction (sp) in New Zealand... wish I had known before the telling off.

Lyon actually doesn't control the wearing of feathers - he does have jurisdiction over the actual use and bearing of arms, but not feathers. The feathers are purely traditional; though, as I've said before, I probably wouldn't wear any large feathers, both to avoid potential conflict and out of respect for tradition.

[Chas]

The wearing of feathers should be like all other things we do in life. What ever we do, should be done without the desire or intention to cause offence.

Regards

Chas

[OC Richard]

Feathers have always been around! Here in our earliest clear depiction of Highland Dress, in 1660:



and with the chief of Clan Murray in 1822:



The pipers of the Cameron Highlanders have always worn an eagle's feather:



and that has been perpetuated down to modern times:



Now here are some random civilians back in the day wearing feathers:









And what sort of feather is this, worn by The King's Piper?

[creagdhubh]

This topic has already been discussed many times on the forum. As far as tall eagle feathers are concerned, only armigers, or gentlemen (duine uasal) of the clan (1 feather), Chieftains of cadet branches of a Highland clan (2 feathers), and Chiefs of Highland clans (3 feathers) should wear them in their bonnet.

Cheers,

[James Hood]

In parts of inner Chicago, wearing the "wrong" colour and/or lacing pattern of shoe laces which are "proprietary" to certain street gangs and their taking offense can result in worse things happening to one than a telling off.

While personally not a feathers person, opinion here in this "global culture" is, unless a person deliberately "mocks" a known tradition, their dress is a personal statement.

Certainly, wearing the discarded plumage of a local avian species is "identifying with one's home locale" and therefore, a tradition going back to truly "primitive" roots.

[Mike_Oettle]

Many thanks, Richard, for posting those pictures.
The first shows an ostrich feather – those birds are not only flightless, but occur naturally only Africa and Arabia (I believe they are now extinct on the Arabian Peninsula).
They have been worn by men and women in Western Europe since at least the Middle Ages. Finding out how much they are part of the Highland tradition would be most interesting.
The gent with the long whiskers intrigued me, since his feather seemed to match his long hair sporran.
While I would not presume to wear an eagle feather until my arms are registered, I am quite keen on the idea of wearing other kinds of feathers, preferably short, bright ones – for instance a red feather from an African grey parrot.
Regards,
Mike

[McClef]

Strictly speaking feathers other than eagle ones are fine.

That doesn't mean that that others will necessarily look good!

[Tobus]

No feathers in my bonnet, but grouse feathers on a kilt pin look grand!

[guardsman]

kilt kops no , but feathers are a serious business , Some rules of gaelic heritage should be respected.They are for chieftains , chiefs and proven men . If you respect the plaid then respect the heritage. Sorry if that like a kilt kop but some things are a bit more serious and respectful.Cheers