 | | 
10-24-2009, 02:44 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Seattle
Posts: 71
| |  To hat bow or Not to hat bow
I've seen various people wearing their balmorals and occasionally glengarrys with tying the ribbons on the back in a bow. The first time I saw this I inquired and was told that this indicated your marital status -- untied means single, tied means married. My gut feeling about these folks suggested that these folks didn't know what they were talking about, and even with seeing it a fat handful of time since it still seems like like hooie to me. Yes/no -- are modern hats with ribbons ever supposed to have ties, and if so when & why? I think someone also said that this is noted in "So You're Going To Wear The Kilt", true or false?
Relative to this... - I understand that the diced check pattern in hats, as with some pipe bands/drummers, comes from early versions of the hats where the ribbons actually laced through the hat around the head and would be tied making the fit of the hat to the wearer. Is this historically accurate?
- I understand that in modern use w/ pipe/drum corps (and any body else?), wearing hats with dicing is supposed to be done when and indicating service to the queen/crown. Correct/incorrect?
|
10-24-2009, 02:48 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Conyers, Georgia
Posts: 3,893
| |
That married and single thing is not to be believed. Your guy feelings were well justified.
You should tie the balmoral's ribbons and trim them neatly on the bias.
Leave the glengarry ribbons loose-always.
You can, of course, do as you like with your own bonnter, and as many are quick to point out, you need not fall victim to tradition or stylistic fascism. But anything less than above looks like you really don't know what you're doing. 
P.S. If you ahve a good, well made balmoral from Scotland, the ribbons probably came sewn together from the hat bank down about 3 inches. Pick that thread out carefully so as not to damage the grosgrain ribbon, and then tie the ribbons.
__________________
Jim Killman
Philosopher, Teacher of English and Math, Soldier of Fortune, Bon Vivant, Heart Transplant Recipient, Knight of St. Andrew (among other knighthoods)
Freedom is not free, but the US Marine Corps will pay most of your share.
|
10-24-2009, 03:04 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Highlands,Scotland.
Posts: 8,254
| | |
If you are a Highlander then the ribbons on a balmoral are traditionally tied in a bow. There is a practical reason for this. The highlands are well known for wind and rain and a wet ribbon flicking you in the eye hurts. In the olden days the ribbon was used to adjust the fit. A diced bonnet is rarely worn in the "old" Jacobite areas(a bonnet is rarely worn anyway)as it is still regarded as supporting the Crown by some, but I doubt that there is any written evidence of this. As to the rest of the stories just regard them as just that.If in doubt just cut the ribbons off, no one will notice!
As for a glengarry, anyone who has had to wear one for any length of time, they usually find the nearest bin at the earliest opportunity!
Last edited by Jock Scot; 10-24-2009 at 03:12 PM.
|
10-24-2009, 03:27 PM
| | | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Seattle
Posts: 71
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Jock Scot  If in doubt just cut the ribbons off, no one will notice! | Too many folks refer to it as a beret anyway...
|
10-24-2009, 03:36 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Highlands,Scotland.
Posts: 8,254
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by BagpiperDon Too many folks refer to it as a beret anyway... | What, with the toorie on the top! Surely not!
|
10-24-2009, 04:06 PM
| | | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Seattle
Posts: 71
| |
Indeed -- its depressing.
|
10-24-2009, 04:13 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Highlands,Scotland.
Posts: 8,254
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by BagpiperDon Indeed -- its depressing. | Not really, it only demonstrates the problems of adapting(or keeping your own)a culture amongst all the the other cultures in a relatively young country. Keep going laddie! |
10-24-2009, 04:59 PM
| | | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Seattle
Posts: 71
| | |
True.
I was thinking more along the lines of National Tartan Day and How The Scots Invented The Modern World -- considering the influences Scots have had that the (US) public aren't more aware.
...But, that's just silly talk -- you know, like wishing people might also be more respectful as opposed to yelling the whats-under idiot line &/or kilt flipping.
|
10-26-2009, 10:53 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Bayou City - Houston, TX
Posts: 5,249
| | |
I hate touries. That's why I prefer the caubeen.
__________________
Steve "Jack Daw" McIntyre
"The honour the Sleat carpenter obtained...is still preserved for his decendants." Duncan Ban MacIntyre
|
10-27-2009, 05:45 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Glaschú, Alba
Posts: 1,335
| | |
I think most people don't think about wearing a diced hat too much. Most of the Tartan Army wear diced glengarrys when at games - but I'm sure at least some of them do not support the crown and at least a majority do not feel they are giving service to the crown by watching Scotland play football and travelling to other countries to do so. (sorry for the looooooong sentence!)
__________________ It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom -- for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself. | | |
| X Marks Advertisers |  |  For Quality Scottish Made Products at Affordable Prices |  |  | |
|
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
|
|
