Wearing kilts of other tartans than your clans.

[Monkey@Arms]

This scenario just isn't true, certainly not always. At one point clan chiefs and chieftans were asked to provide samples of their tartan(s) for a collection being assembled by a London-based society, whose name and subsequent publication I do not recall of the top of my head. Many of the chiefs then took it upon themselves to research their tartan(s) and provide examples as authentic as they could.

Several of the tartans predate the 1745 uprising and subsequent proscription, such as Campbell and the red Morrison.

As always, our Matt has written extensively on this point, and I direct the gentle readers to this detailed essay:

http://albanach.org/sources.htm

Best regards,

Jake (whose clan tartan was a pattern ordered to clothe plantation workers in the West Indies)

[MarkReaves]

I currently do not own any kilt with a tartan. However, when I get a traditional kilt (it will happen eventually), it will be a Campbell Tartan as my grandfather was a Campbell and he was more of a dad to me than my real dad (who was never there).

If I were to choose another tartan for any reason, it would be the xmarks tartan because the people here are like my family and I would be proud to wear it. Plus it looks good :P

Any other tartan means nothing to me and I would feel odd wearing some other families tartan.

[macwilkin]

Um, where in this thread has anyone shown a lack of respect, such that this repeated admonishment is required?

Best regards,

Jake

[mod hat off]

Jake,

I never said he didn't...but you must admit that the traditionalists do take a "beating" around here at times.

Am I not allowed to make a statement asking for mutual respect? Do I have to have a reason?

Regards,

Todd

[Morris at Heathfield]

This scenario just isn't true, certainly not always. At one point clan chiefs and chieftans were asked to provide samples of their tartan(s) for a collection being assembled by a London-based society, whose name and subsequent publication I do not recall of the top of my head. Many of the chiefs then took it upon themselves to research their tartan(s) and provide examples as authentic as they could.

Several of the tartans predate the 1745 uprising and subsequent proscription, such as Campbell and the red Morrison.

Although I haven't attempted to catalog all of the clan tartans collected by the Highland Society of London, the overall impression I've gathered is that most of the clan chiefs resorted to selecting tartans designed by Wilson's of Bannockburn. Some clan tartans were taken from artifacts believed to have come from the '45. According to the late James D. Scarlett, the Campbell tartan dates to 1749. The Black Watch used some other tartan(s) before then. It did not come to be regarded as as a Campbell clan tartan until much later. The Red Morrison tartan dates to 1747 at the latest, but it was not reproduced by industrial weavers until after its discovery in 1935, over a hundred years after the first batch of clan tartans appeared. There is no reason to believe it was regarded as a clan tartan before then.

Regarding the topic of this thread, I do aim to respect custom and tradition, even when its origin can reasonably be placed within two centuries of the present day. However, in my opinion, that kind of leaves me without a tartan.

[kiltimabar]

Regarding the topic of this thread, I do aim to respect custom and tradition, even when its origin can reasonably be placed within two centuries of the present day. However, in my opinion, that kind of leaves me without a tartan.

Surely no one can ever be completely bereft of suitable tartans, even if all clan tartans are shunned.

[Cassidy]

Being adopted, I never knew what my ancestry was. You could say I "chose" to consider myself Scottish, but it's not how I saw it. I just knew that Celtic music stirred my heart, that Scottish history always held my interest, and that I always wanted to wear a kilt. So when I finally came down to buying one, I kind of "chose" a clan too, picking the Gordon tartan because it was a great looking kilt.

Was it the right thing to do? It's debateable. I picked the off the peg kilt that fit me and looked nice, and I've worn it proudly since.

Since then I've found my biological father and discovered that I am indeed primarily Scottish. My father's last name is Harper, a sept of the Buchanans, so when I invest in a formal 8-yarder here eventually, that will absolutely be the tartan I buy.

In the ring, I stick to fashion tartan Sportkilts, because I'm playing a character who isn't really "me."

[gilmore]

Although I haven't attempted to catalog all of the clan tartans collected by the Highland Society of London, the overall impression I've gathered is that most of the clan chiefs resorted to selecting tartans designed by Wilson's of Bannockburn. Some clan tartans were taken from artifacts believed to have come from the '45. According to the late James D. Scarlett, the Campbell tartan dates to 1749. The Black Watch used some other tartan(s) before then. It did not come to be regarded as as a Campbell clan tartan until much later. The Red Morrison tartan dates to 1747 at the latest, but it was not reproduced by industrial weavers until after its discovery in 1935, over a hundred years after the first batch of clan tartans appeared. There is no reason to believe it was regarded as a clan tartan before then.

Regarding the topic of this thread, I do aim to respect custom and tradition, even when its origin can reasonably be placed within two centuries of the present day. However, in my opinion, that kind of leaves me without a tartan.

What about the famous MacSourgrapes tartan?

[RamsayClanCommish]

Interesting responses. I was always under the impression that one should wear only a kilt to which he was related. barring that, then a kilt all can wear like Blackwatch.

For myself, I would only wear a Ramsay tartan as that is my clan onmy fathers side and I am right proud. For some reason, wearing a kilt of another tartan and which was for another clan simply because I "liked it" seems wrong to me. Perhaps I am one of those stick in the mud types who see that as showing little respect for the clan and its history and tradition in a way. Though, I am sure that no such disrespect is ever intended by those here.

[skruse]

I have two kilts: Muir Modern and Muir Ancient. I wear what strikes the mood. the Ancient has a "faded" look more appropro to plant-based dyes. The Modern colors are rich and bold. The only trick is making sure you have the flashes, fly plaid, bow tie and other things that match.

[Bugbear]

I'm with Jock on this one-- I wear my family tartan, not the one of some family to which I may be distantly connected. I probably wouldn't wear a kilt at all if I wasn't Scottish-- I admire the culture of the Rajputs, but I don't wear a turban and jodhpurs. That said, it doesn't phase me in the least to see a non-Scot in a kilt any more than it does seeing a Scot in cowboy gear line dancing in Oban.

How does that saying go? "Aye, there's naught queer as folk."

Strangely, that is comforting...