Tartan Obligation

[Riverkilt]

Haven't done my taxes yet, but I'm hopeful for a refund...which has me reviewing my wish list for the next Kathy Lare hand sewn kilt.

No decisions yet, but did come up with sort of a philosophical question.

I know anyone can wear most any tartan they want to and like.

But what if your clan tartan, or district tartan for your family, is a tartan you don't particularly like? Is there any obligation felt to go ahead and get a kilt in your clan tartan - just because it is your clan tartan - even if you don't much like the tartan design.

Not gonna name any clan tartans...just staying with the idea.

Seems to me that if your name is a name that has a tartan there would be a stonger obligation felt than if it was a great great grandfather's clan tartan...

Like, I would like to honor my Maternal Grandfather, but his name doesn't have an associated tartan and the district his family is probably from has a tartan I don't much like...

Getting caught up in, "I wanna, but not with that one."

I know I have no obligation...but I know but I don't know but I know....follow?

Or with district tartans. I have an Isle of Skye which I think is beautiful...but I'd also like to honor my family's time in Nova Scotia/ Cape Breton Island....but I'm not sure I like either of those tartans well enough...sorry...guess I named some. On my mother's side its the same with the Quebec tartan...

Not meaning to offend anyone, its just me. Maybe its being dissappointed that some of the clans and districts I'd like to honor devised tartans I'm not attracted to enough to buy a kilt in the tartan.

Sort of a Catch - 22. I wanna, but not with that one...

Frustrating...

Ron

[beloitpiper]

If you don't like it, don't get it! Simple as that! I'm sure your wish list is long enough to put off buying a family tartan that you don't like!

Fortunately, I've never had this problem, as Gordon is the most beautiful tartan ever woven!

[Gryphon noir]

I know how you feel. My mother's family came from the Aberdeen area. I got curious one day and found that Aberdeen has a tartan.......words fail me....I guess it's all a matter of taste [As the farmer said when he kissed the cow]

[McGurk]

Dont forget that there may be several tartans under that name! I myself dont much like the MacFarlane tartan, but the MacFarlane hunting is one of the best tartans I've seen!

Dont waste money on a kilt you dont want, find as many tartans as you can with a connection to yourself, and pick the one you like the best.

[Beertigger]

There are a few familial tartans I could wear, but I'm not gonna.

Shudder.

I really don't care what the name of the pattern is, I'll just wear what I like. I've got a Weathered Mackenzie that I love. I have absolutely no idea if there's a Mackenzie in the family or not. Who cares?

I won't, however, wear a certain greenish-blackish tartan on St. Patrick's Day, but that's a different issue entirely.

[Jock Scot]

I think I know where you are coming from,Ron.I have been hampered with the "convention" that I should only wear the tartan of only one clan for all of my life,60 plus years, and that is what I have done.Happily, I may add,I like the one I wear.I have the choice of about a dozen or so other clan tartans to choose from and still remain loyal to my clan,but I don't like them.What people ,who think like me, do if they do not like their respective clan tartan I really do not know.

There are some,not many,tartans that I really like and if I were a "colonial"(sorry!)type who has been brought up with a healthy dis-regard to conventions or even rules then I would very happily go out and wear them.I am afraid that whilst this traditional old Scot is still breathing I am doomed (and proud) to have worn the same tartan for all my years.

[BoldHighlander]

There are some,not many,tartans that I really like and if I were a "colonial"(sorry!)type who has been brought up with a healthy dis-regard to conventions or even rules then I would very happily go out and wear them.I am afraid that whilst this traditional old Scot is still breathing I am doomed (and proud) to have worn the same tartan for all my years.

I'm one of those "colonial's" who's a traditionalists at heart when it comes to family tartans, though I also believe Ron, you should wear what you like, not because you feel obligated to.

I'm one of those who's also lucky that he likes his clan tartan, in this case Modern Mackay (in the larger sett as reproduced by House of Edgar). I also like most (but not all) of the District tartans of my Scobee's (Perthshire) and have on my wish list two different district tartans, however as with Mackay, there are a couple tartans I would not wear.

Not sure the family tartan you speak of, but as some here have stated you may find more than one colour (modern / ancient / weathered etc) and one may "speak to you."

But in the end don't feel obligated to wear something you do not like.

Happy hunting!

[Standard]

There are some,not many,tartans that I really like and if I were a "colonial"(sorry!)type who has been brought up with a healthy dis-regard to conventions or even rules then I would very happily go out and wear them.I am afraid that whilst this traditional old Scot is still breathing I am doomed (and proud) to have worn the same tartan for all my years.

Being one of the colonials who has ties to Scotland, although they are back several generations, I have no direct line to any one name. While hunting for a tartan for my recent kilt purchase I looked at the tartans connected with all my ancestrial names. Some of these tartans caught my eye, and others made me think "well...." and in the end I chose the Caledonian as much for the district as because I (and as important I suppose my wife) liked the look of the tartan.

To some of the traditionalists on this board this might appear to be a sketchy way to choose a tartan, and for my next I'll certainly choose on connected to a particular ancestor's name. However, that being said I had the thought process that I'd rather be comfortable in getting to wear a kilt that I truely liked over wearing a tartan just because of the name. Just my two cents for what it's worth.

[BoldHighlander]

and in the end I chose the Caledonian as much for the district as because I (and as important I suppose my wife) liked the look of the tartan.

To some of the traditionalists on this board this might appear to be a sketchy way to choose a tartan, and for my next I'll certainly choose on connected to a particular ancestor's name. However, that being said I had the thought process that I'd rather be comfortable in getting to wear a kilt that I truely liked over wearing a tartan just because of the name. Just my two cents for what it's worth.

And as a "traditionalist" I say that is all that matters

[ccga3359]

You've put a lot of thought into choosing the right tartan for you. Woo what a way to pay respect to it, congratulations.