Nuptial question

[RayMc]

Can someone please try to answer the following question for a good friend of mine? I would appreciate it very much.

I would love some help with defining the term "plaiding" as in Shawn Hooper will "plaid" me during our wedding ceremony next week. In 30 words or less how would you explain that ritual/ceremony to those not familiar with it? Thanks so much for your thoughts!

[Jock Scot]

I have to confess that I have no idea. Is it an American turn of phrase and custom?

[Paul Henry]

Never heard of it, are you perhaps thinking of "hand fasting"which is sometimes used within a religious marriage ceremony today , but has a very much more ancient pedigree, it involves the hands of the couple being "tied" with a ribbon, cloth or rope when vows to each are given, and when the knots are untied the couple are bound together, perhaps the origin of "tying the knot"
In some parts of of the world tartan is used , but the actual type of cloth is not so important as the tying together of the couple.

[Zardoz]

Well, Unless that term is being confused with some other wedding tradition like handfasting etc., I'm afraid that "plaiding" basically consists of somebody running up to a person wearing any kind of plaid clothing, pointing at them, and yelling "PLAAAIID" really loud. Just me, but If somebody did that during my wedding, I'd likely 'overreact'

[ctbuchanan]

According to my mum who was born in Scotland, this is an American tradition and one that my family adheres to. Usually the oldest male of each family present (and I have had the honor on a few occasions) invites the bride and groom to come up to the front of the room during the reception ( we've usually done it just before the first dance). If both have Scots heritage we take a piece or tartan for each family and wrap it around their hands, if not we just use our Buchanan tartan. We make up what we say on the spot but it usually goes the effect of welcoming each into the other's family. The brides on our side almost always wear a Buchanan tartan sash at the reception - not at the marriage ceremony - so she will also "pin the tartan", usually a piece of Buchanan tartan ribbon on the groom and we welcome him into our clan. We don't pretend that this is done in Scotland - as I'm not sure it ever has been. But I do know of other families who make a similar nod to our Scots heritage here in the US. So make it your own and do whatever you feel is appropriate to your family. I will try and post photos later from one of our weddings.

Note: We do not use the term "plaid" to describe this. If anything we call it "pinning the tartan".

[Bluescelt]

I've read about a tradition of pinning of tartan. Where one person is pinned with the others tartan during the ceremony. This would be a symbol of being welcomed into the pinner's clan. At least that's what I've read.

Thanks David for the explaination!

[MacSpadger]

The use of the word plaid, unless it's a Heilander' describing his blanket, usually means USA, but I think this webpage might give a clue. It describes it as "distinctively Scottish – American", so for us over here I guess that means American.
The rest of the page has touches I have never heard of, while ignoring actual Scottish tradition.
The tune St Kilda wedding is a very old reel, rarely heard nowadays, the "traditional wedding reel" Richie na Bainnse, I've never heard of. I'd presume they mean Dùsgadh Fir na Bainnse, (The Waking of the Bridegroom), but that's not a reel, it's a fairly obscure piobaireachd from Glen's collection of the late 1800's. I can't help but get the feel that someone is making it up as they go along.......................

[Zardoz]

According to my mum who was born in Scotland, this is an American tradition and one that my family adheres to. Usually the oldest male of each family present (and I have had the honor on a few occasions) invites the bride and groom to come up to the front of the room during the reception ( we've usually done it just before the first dance). If both have Scots heritage we take a piece or tartan for each family and wrap it around their hands, if not we just use our Buchanan tartan. We make up what we say on the spot but it usually goes the effect of welcoming each into the other's family. The brides on our side almost always wear a Buchanan tartan sash at the reception - not at the marriage ceremony - so she will also "pin the tartan", usually a piece of Buchanan tartan ribbon on the groom and we welcome him into our clan. We don't pretend that this is done in Scotland - as I'm not sure it ever has been. But I do know of other families who make a similar nod to our Scots heritage here in the US. So make it your own and do whatever you feel is appropriate to your family. I will try and post photos later from one of our weddings.

Note: We do not use the term "plaid" to describe this. If anything we call it "pinning the tartan".

Although it predates the idea of family tartans, you are describing handfasting, it's a commomlaw marriage tradition that goes back hundreds of years in Scotland and other Celtic cultures. It sort of petered out in the 20th century, but is making a comeback in both traditional and non-traditional wedding ceremonies. I've presided over a few handfastings myself.

That being said, I'm still pretty sure "plaiding" consists of yelling plaid at somebody....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se-Lm...feature=relmfu

[The Wizard of BC]

Another distinctly local costume, which I have seen used with success, is for the groom to wear his fly plaid during the first part of the ceremony. At some point after the exchange of rings, the groom faces his new bride, un-pins his plaid from his left shoulder, and drapes it over the right shoulder of his bride.

In effect adopting, or accepting her into his family. The fly plaid is now owed by the bride and she wears it for the rest of the ceremony and during the dancing at the reception.




A word of caution, grooms should be careful not to stick their new spouse with the plaid brooch. Getting blood on her wedding dress should be avoided if you hope for any marital bliss at all.

[Joshua]

Ahh... so this is where that hand-wrapping of the tartan scrap comes from in Braveheart I'm assuming?