Significance of white in a tartan

[Troglodyte]

As an aside, when was this and who was the author?

Here you go, Peter...

Braemar Gathering 2011 souvenir brochure feature article, with the STA credited accordingly.



I'm keeping myself busy at GFM inputting data, as they are in the throes of digitising their collection archive (some 30,000 items in total) and I've got all the books in their library to 'process' - so I keep finding little gems like this...

A.

[Patty Logan]

The author writes that, at a lecture given on the subject, his authority and knowledge was challenged by one of the audience with the statement that white in tartan signifies it was worn at the Battle of Culloden. Why did he not know?

So only Highland Dancers were aloud to fight/dance at the battle? lol

[OC Richard]

So only Highland Dancers were allowed to fight/dance at the battle?

Or perhaps they're the only ones who keep up the tradition of authentic Culloden-worn tartans.

Here they are https://www.inglesbuchan.com/highland-dance-tartans/

[AFS1970]

When I first joined my local St. Andrews society as a teen, there was a gentleman who everyone thought of as the kilt expert. Several people told me to see him about what to wear. Some of his wisdom was about the colors in one's tartan. I can only remember two, both of which turned out to be myths. They were a gold stripe represented loyalty to the (English) crown and a white stripe represented Christianity as opposed to pagan religious affiliation of an entire clan.

[Father Bill]

When I first joined my local St. Andrews society as a teen, there was a gentleman who everyone thought of as the kilt expert. Several people told me to see him about what to wear. Some of his wisdom was about the colors in one's tartan. I can only remember two, both of which turned out to be myths. They were a gold stripe represented loyalty to the (English) crown and a white stripe represented Christianity as opposed to pagan religious affiliation of an entire clan.

Oh, for an "eye-roll" emoji!

[OC Richard]

I can only remember two, both of which turned out to be myths.

They were a gold stripe represented loyalty to the (English) crown and a white stripe represented Christianity as opposed to pagan religious affiliation of an entire clan.

Peter more for your list!!

It would be instructive for all tartan aficionados for somebody to go colour-by-colour with this guy and discover the hidden meaning of each.

And take notes so it can be preserved for posterity.

[Tomo]

[QUOTE=OC Richard;1407930It would be instructive for all tartan aficionados for somebody to go colour-by-colour...[/QUOTE]

I think we are going to need need some fairly complex Venn diagrams...

This little gem is from the BBC - Today, the colours identify religion as red and green tartans represent Catholics and the blue represents Protestants. The divide is important in Scotland as one can identify people's religion by what colour tartan is worn.

[Adreena]

An article in the Braemar Gathering souvenir programme from a few years ago talks informatively about tartan, giving the less well-informed than we are here a bit of an insight into origins and inspiration for new setts.

The author writes that, at a lecture given on the subject, his authority and knowledge was challenge
by one of the audience with the statement that white in tartan signifies it was worn at the Battle of Culloden. Why did he not know?

Hmmm, well...

That's a new one to me. So what do you make of it?

Despite the woefully mistaken and wonderfully romantic ideas, where do people get these notions..?

Imagine a hesitant customer shopping for his heritage on the Royal Mile, who is showing signs of pulling out a lucrative deal.

Our quick-thinking sales-assistant comes up with the deal-clincher of "Well, of course all those white stripes are there to show your chosen tartan was worn at Culloden. You descend from Jacobite heroes! What? Increase your oder to five kilts? One for each member of the family? Will that be cash or card, sir..?

What is it they say about fooling some of the people all of the time..?

I believe there is some convoluted truth to this. I think a white brooch indicates your clan was a Jacobite supporter.

[OC Richard]

I believe there is some convoluted truth to this. I think a white brooch indicates your clan was a Jacobite supporter.

You might be thinking about the White Cockade, which was a thing.



A brooch would be metal.