The 'Right' to wear a Tartan?

[Highwayman]

To begin, I'm mixed Polish-Irish right down the middle, pure heritage on both sides of the family. Theoretically, there's some O'Connor on the Irish side with a tartan out there I can't afford. However, a few months ago I was headed to the opening week of the Renn Faire in my black 5.11 kilt and my step-mother saw it. Rather than laugh at it like all my other relatives have, which is just fine as I'm a bit of a joker, she immediately asked if my father's had a tartan. Explaining we had none, she casually said 'Oh, Joanie's family had two, you can wear one of those.' Joanie was my step-mother's recently deceased mother, and let me just say she was a firecracker of an old bird I miss dearly. This step-family is a simply wonderful group I'm very close to, my father and I stand out being only legally related but are on extremely good terms compared to my blood relatives even. Her family was originally the Christies, as in the Christie Medical Centers, and they are known for a very colorful scatter-patterned tartan. They also had Farquharson ties, and wore them interchangably. Farq (I have to copy and paste that name every time I type it...) is a rather common tartan, and low and behold USA Kilts has a casual kilt in that pattern which I can afford after my job hunt pays off.

I did a Facebook post featuring the Christie, Farq, Masonic (I'm a Mason but don't like the pattern), and American Heritage tartan (I just love it) asking which one was most appealing to casual onlookers. Surprisingly, I had some older gentlemen asking about my heritage, and they strongly encouraged me to only pursue the Masonic pattern because my bloodlines weren't directly Farq or Christie. While I know there are Universal Tartans, I'm in a point in my life where I'm seeking ties to the past to figure out who I am as I get my career started. I admire the tartan system because it's pride in heritage and identity. Is the blessing and encouragement of the family enough to warrant a non-relative wearing the colors? Does it all not matter, seeing as the tartan system isn't that ancient truly? Should I wait until I can afford something rarer that I'm directly allowed to wear and take pride in that?

[Father Bill]

Hi! You might want to peruse this recent thread: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...hildren-77819/

Bill+

[S Mitchell]

My stepson, who has his mother's last name, isn't inclined to wear a kilt. But if he chose to wear the Mitchell tartan, in any fashion, I'd be proud to see it.

Family is so much more than bloodlines.

[Father Bill]

Family is also much more than male bloodlines alone!

[Mel1721L]

Family is also much more than male bloodlines alone!

My father was a mean, nasty sob, I much prefer my mothers family which have the Celtic connection rather than my fathers, who I never even met.

[Steve Ashton]

There are only three rules that govern what Tartan you can, or should wear.

1) Pick a Tartan that has some significance to you. You may carry the name, you may come from or live in that place, or you may simple like the colors.

2) Know what Tartan you are wearing. You will be asked.

3) Wear it with pride.


If anyone tells you that you can only wear your "Clan" Tartan or that you cannot wear a particular Tartan, then I'm afraid that I must say;

Yes, there are Tartan snobs out there but fortunately there are no Tartan cops.



You are a member of this forum. You are fully authorized and encouraged to wear the X Marks Tartan. To many members of this community the X Marks Tartan IS their Tartan.
And if anyone questions that, tell them that you have the Tartan owner's written permission to do so.

[Pleater]

When I get around to it, I will make myself a kilt in the Armstrong tartan - I have some ancient Armstrong fabric - for my dad. He wasn't an Armstrong, but he was related to the family of Wilsons who were engineers and who worked for the Armstrong company.
Dad went into raptures over any Armstrong Sidderley car we came across - I think there was a Sidderley Sapphire the owner allowed him to sit in - he was absolutely delighted.

If anyone ever asks I will tell them why I am wearing it.

Dad's granddad Wilson and his brother used to go around working on the boilers in the dark satanic mills around Barnsley, South Yorkshire - they used to take my dad with them to climb into the small spaces and clean them out when he ought to have been at school. They would clean him up, give him sixpence and drop him off at home looking as though butter wouldn't melt, I bet.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[WillowEstate]

When I get around to it, I will make myself a kilt in the Armstrong tartan - I have some ancient Armstrong fabric - for my dad. He wasn't an Armstrong, but he was related to the family of Wilsons who were engineers and who worked for the Armstrong company.
Dad went into raptures over any Armstrong Sidderley car we came across - I think there was a Sidderley Sapphire the owner allowed him to sit in - he was absolutely delighted.

If anyone ever asks I will tell them why I am wearing it.
<snip>
Anne the Pleater :ootd:

The Sapphire and Star Sapphire were truly beautiful cars, hand built by traditional craftsmen. What a fitting tribute to your Dad.

[The farqcom]

Hello, as President of Clan Farquharson USA, I would say "welcome brother"! Wear either the Christie or Farquharson tartan.

Jim McKeehan

[duke_19_62]

Hello, as President of Clan Farquharson USA, I would say "welcome brother"! Wear...Farquharson tartan.

Jim McKeehan

I think that settles the Farquharson question.

I have several tartans I wear. First (the one in my avatar) is Macneil of Barra.. As a twenty-year veteran, I wear the US Army tartan, and as a 30-year Freemason and Past Master, I wear the Freemason Universal Tartan. I refer to the Army and Freemasonry as my "other" clans. I also have the Ulster District Irish tartan (the Irish O'Neill clan came from there) which is also a good red and green for the winter holiday season. I also have a couple of what are called fashion tartans, "Heritage of Scotland" and "Pink Stewart" which I wear in support of Breast Cancer awareness. My wife has been a survivor of that disease since 2004. I also have 2 solid color Utility kilts from Amerikilt, but those are off-topic for this thread.

I also agree with Father Bill and S. Mitchell: "Family is also much more than male bloodlines"