Can I wear my wife's family too?

**Burly Brute** · 27th May 11, 01:54 PM

My soon-to-be wife has ties with the Donalds, is it proper for me to get a couple tanks in this tartan and claim it or is that only open to her and our offspring? Thanks rabble!

-Zach

**Paul Henry** · 27th May 11, 01:58 PM

Of course you can, you can wear just about any tartan you like.
It would be a nice gesture as well, a supportive one , and certainly one showing that you are proud of your wife' and her name.Almost all the early clans were composed of many different family names originally in any case, but taking hte name of hte chief

**Burly Brute** · 27th May 11, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by paulhenry

Of course you can, you can wear just about any tartan you like.
It would be a nice gesture as well, a supportive one , and certainly one showing that you are proud of your wife' and her name.Almost all the early clans were composed of many different family names originally in any case, but taking hte name of hte chief

You raise some good points, I just enjoy wearing tartan that I can stake somewhat claims to, so that was why I asked. I just didn't know if t'were proper to do so. Thanks for the reply!

-Z

**piperdbh** · 27th May 11, 02:03 PM

'Way back in the whenever, somebody said that you're not supposed to wear your wife's tartan. But then that somebody died. Wear what you want, and post some pictures.

**Whidbey78** · 27th May 11, 03:05 PM

When it comes to what tartan to wear the only real "rule" is that you shouldn't wear restricted tartans. The convenient thing about that is that--barring an astronomically unlikely chance encounter with someone who has such a tartan on hand, needs money, and lacks the moral character to be trusted with such things--you just aren't going to get your hands on one of them.

Wile some will only wear their own tartan, by choice, there is nothing saying you can't wear any tartan on the market. Remember, even though many clans, septs, governments, regions, groups and companies claim(and sometimes actually DO own) tartans, the "Clan Tartan" was actually an invention of the weavers after Proscription was lifted. That's not to say that the symbolism is any less meaningful, just that it was an invention of the fashion industry in the 19th century. In a way, if you wear whatever tartan you like, you are being traditional--"Old School" too.

While centuries ago people wore any tartan, and sometimes several at once, the only "rule" I would ever advise someone to follow is to stick to one tartan at a time. That's just personal taste, but one that I think many people share.

**Lyle1** · 27th May 11, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Whidbey78

When it comes to what tartan to wear the only real "rule" is that you shouldn't wear restricted tartans.

There is another rule. Don't make false claims about why you are wearing a certain tartan. If you are wearing it to honor your wife's family, say so, and wear it proudly.

**xman** · 27th May 11, 04:36 PM

Only sissy, emasculated men wear their wife's clan tartan.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 27th May 11, 09:09 PM

For centuries it has been the tradition in Scotland for a gentleman who does not belong to any clan to be adopted into his wife's clan. If, on the other hand, he belongs to another clan (in the same way a soldier belongs to his regiment or a sailor belongs to his ship) then it is the custom that the wife leaves her clan and enters that of her husband.

As the clan system applies to the kilt, the custom has evolved whereby a gentleman only wears the tartan associated with his surname as this is an outward manifestation of the intangible bond of loyalty that exists between a clansman and his chief. Now, if you have no ties to another clan, then custom would dictate that you formally become a member of your wife's clan, and then wear that clan tartan as your own, handing it down to your children as your family's "clan tartan".

I fully appreciate that some on this forum revel in wearing the tartan of every single Scottish ancestor to which they can lay claim. Such is not the case in Scotland, where a gentleman wears a tartan kilt, not a tartan patchwork of kilts, and only wears the tartan associated with his surname.

**Burly Brute** · 27th May 11, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown

For centuries it has been the tradition in Scotland for a gentleman who does not belong to any clan to be adopted into his wife's clan. If, on the other hand, he belongs to another clan (in the same way a soldier belongs to his regiment or a sailor belongs to his ship) then it is the custom that the wife leaves her clan and enters that of her husband.

As the clan system applies to the kilt, the custom has evolved whereby a gentleman only wears the tartan associated with his surname as this is an outward manifestation of the intangible bond of loyalty that exists between a clansman and his chief. Now, if you have no ties to another clan, then custom would dictate that you formally become a member of your wife's clan, and then wear that clan tartan as your own, handing it down to your children as your family's "clan tartan".

I fully appreciate that some on this forum revel in wearing the tartan of every single Scottish ancestor to which they can lay claim. Such is not the case in Scotland, where a gentleman wears a tartan kilt, not a tartan patchwork of kilts, and only wears the tartan associated with his surname.

Aye, and this be the case in my circumstance.

I guess at the end of the day my main motive is a bit more selfish than those would assume on this forum...I just want more kilts!!!!!

**Jock Scot** · 28th May 11, 12:20 AM

MoR has it spot on. My wife wears my tartan and has done so since we were married. I can't say that I ever recall discussing the subject with her, it is just what "we" do up here. Would I mind if she wore her family tartan? No, not at all. Would I wear her family's tartan? No. Would they like me to? No(we do get on well though!). Would they expect me to? No.Do I like it when my wife wears my tartan? Yes, very much.