Joining A Clan?

[george7]

This would be a good time to bring up Clan Xmarks. Shall I say MacXmarks? I wonder if we could be a REAL Clan?

[george7]

...maybe somebody would be willing to adopt the name MacXmark

[SteveB]

We are a Clan in the true sense of the word, by our loyalty to Chief Highlandtide, as controlled by his commissioners (the Mod Squad), and outfitted by the clan quartermaster, Wizard of BC. Far more important than the number of posts that I have racked up is the fine friendship of the members of Clan X-Marks the Scot.

[billmcc]

There are still clan chiefs of many of the clans who do decide things like which tartans are the accepted clan tartans. So, I slightly disagree with gilmore, but mostly out of intuition.

Gilmore is correct. Clans were abolished a couple hundred years ago. There are people referred to as clan chiefs because they inherited the title. Legally they are chiefs of nothing.

[Scotus]

XMarks is a Web forum, not a clan. You can have a tartan (many organizations and societies do), but it doesn't make it a clan. Iowa has a tartan (many states do); however, Iowa is not a clan. Having a fake "clan badge" doesn't make it a clan either. A real clan badge refers either to the plant badge traditionally worn, and/or the crest of the chief encircled in a belt with the clan motto inscribed.

Clans as once known do not exist; that is, where a family, or those accepted into the family, lives in a given region and can be called out by the chief to do battle. Clans exist today as more family/name organizations, remnants of a clan system of long ago. Clans exist today in as much as the Lord Lyon recognizes "Chief of the name and arms of Clan ______." The chief of the clan decides things like which tartan is a true tartan of Clan _______, or he might even be the head his own clan society. That being said, some clan societies have nothing to do with the chief; only in bearing the same surname.

The clan societies may, or may not, be connected with the Chief of the name and arms of Clan _________. Some are very strict about membership; Clan Donald comes to mind. Some are less strict and require only an interest in their ideals. I would search your background for a name that might be connected somehow with a clan. If there is none, there are societies that will let you join as long as you pay the fee. When you do this, it will give you a connection to their activities and will be a nice way to get more involved with Scottish cultural activities.

Hope this helps.

[Mike1]

Is it possible to join a clan if you aren't born into one?

What you would actually be joining would be a clan society and not an actual clan.

And as gilmore pointed out, most clan societies have two, basic prerequisites for membership -

1. Can you fog a mirror?
2. Did you bring your wallet?

There are some clan societies involved in some worthwhile efforts (which is my standard cajunscot disclaimer ), but remember that paying for a bit of pasteboard to put in your wallet will never make you something you are not. I recommend carefully researching the society you are considering, before they separate you from your hard-earned dollars.

[macwilkin]

What you would actually be joining would be a clan society and not an actual clan.

And as gilmore pointed out, most clan societies have two, basic prerequisites for membership -

1. Can you fog a mirror?
2. Did you bring your wallet?

There are some clan societies involved in some worthwhile efforts (which is my standard cajunscot disclaimer ), but remember that paying for a bit of pasteboard to put in your wallet will never make you something you are not. I recommend carefully researching the society you are considering, before they separate you from your hard-earned dollars.

Sorry, Mike, but Scotus' post was much more diplomatic to clan societies.

Some folks here have had bad experiences with clan societies, and I can certainly understand their cynicism about such groups, but not all clan societies are alike.

Regards,

Todd

[highlander_Daz]

I can reccomend clan Cameron, active social scene an "authentic" clan chief
(Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel) and a great website

http://www.clancameron.org.uk/

[Tommy Hunt]

What you would actually be joining would be a clan society and not an actual clan.

And as gilmore pointed out, most clan societies have two, basic prerequisites for membership -

1. Can you fog a mirror?
2. Did you bring your wallet?

There are some clan societies involved in some worthwhile efforts (which is my standard cajunscot disclaimer ), but remember that paying for a bit of pasteboard to put in your wallet will never make you something you are not. I recommend carefully researching the society you are considering, before they separate you from your hard-earned dollars.

So in order to be a clan member proper one would need show a bloodline connection?

[Tommy Hunt]

XMarks is a Web forum, not a clan. You can have a tartan (many organizations and societies do), but it doesn't make it a clan. Iowa has a tartan (many states do); however, Iowa is not a clan. Having a fake "clan badge" doesn't make it a clan either. A real clan badge refers either to the plant badge traditionally worn, and/or the crest of the chief encircled in a belt with the clan motto inscribed.

Clans as once known do not exist; that is, where a family, or those accepted into the family, lives in a given region and can be called out by the chief to do battle. Clans exist today as more family/name organizations, remnants of a clan system of long ago. Clans exist today in as much as the Lord Lyon recognizes "Chief of the name and arms of Clan ______." The chief of the clan decides things like which tartan is a true tartan of Clan _______, or he might even be the head his own clan society. That being said, some clan societies have nothing to do with the chief; only in bearing the same surname.

The clan societies may, or may not, be connected with the Chief of the name and arms of Clan _________. Some are very strict about membership; Clan Donald comes to mind. Some are less strict and require only an interest in their ideals. I would search your background for a name that might be connected somehow with a clan. If there is none, there are societies that will let you join as long as you pay the fee. When you do this, it will give you a connection to their activities and will be a nice way to get more involved with Scottish cultural activities.

Hope this helps.

Clan Hunter required the geneology to show name connection for membership. I don't know if membership would be given if one couldn't do that. All members receive a letter from Chief, Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterston.