"New" Clan MacTavish Dress Tartan

[creagdhubh]

Believe me, we have had judges who have posted on the dance group forum who've answered questions about issues like these and have said that they're too busy looking at the FEET to be worried about which tartan the dancer is wearing.

And rightly so!

[David Thorpe]

Are you actually saying that those dancers who wear the MacLeod tartans should be barred from placing or winning?

Absolutely and most emphatically not! As I stated in the beginning, I am simply happy that our MacTavish girls now have a dance tartan of their own. It has been a long time coming.

[Dixiecat]

Absolutely and most emphatically not! As I stated in the beginning, I am simply happy that our MacTavish girls now have a dance tartan of their own. It has been a long time coming.

I would rather that you said, 'our MacTavish dancers.' Remember, not all dancers are girls.

Actually, I'm interested in why you think it's for dancers? The registry specifically says it's for John, Thane of Knapdale. That sounds more like a Dress tartan in the strictest sense and not a created dance tartan. Do you have any further info?

[Downunder Kilt]

"Dress" has become, at least in some circles, the term used to describe tartans with white fields most often worn by Highland dancers. A perusal of "Dress" clan tartan listings will bear this out. Our small clan has not had an official dress tartan for over 150 years, so MacTavish (and many Thompson) girls have had to choose another clan's tartan for competition. Our Chief has remedied that, with my thanks on the girls' behalf.

Does this mean that the MacTavish dress tartan (STA ref 1383) and had the blessing of the Clan Chief in 1998 (from notes on the tartan at the Scottish Register of Tartans "In 1998 it was agreed by Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry 26th Chief to be the 'dress' Clan tartan") was not really an "Official Dress Tartan"? If the Chief of my clan declares something to be official, then I say it's official until he says otherwise.

[David Thorpe]

It never ceases to amaze me...

[Downunder Kilt]

I am sorry if it seems like a can of worms, but there appears to be conflicting recollections of history. One statement is that the clan has not had a dress tartan for over 150 years, the other an offiical record that the 26th Clan Chief agreed it was the Clans dress tartan in 1998. I have no intention of insulting anyones integrity but this is how myths and misinformation is generated leading to confusion for future students of history

[David Thorpe]

No conflict, no misinformation, no conspiracy and certainly nothing with any ramifications on history. The late Chief approved it, the current Chief registered it. End of story.