Tartan Manners?

[adamjthompson]

So...I just bought my first kilt. I needed a costume for an event, which made a good excuse to buy a kilt for regular wearing.

I do not know if I have Scottish ancestors or not - I do know I have lots of English and Irish ancestors. So, I just chose a tartan based on what was available and what I liked...I ended up with a MacDonald clan tartan.

My question is - are there rules about wearing a clan tartan you aren't a member of?

Like if I were to wear my kilt to highland games or other such gatherings, would it be frowned upon for me to be wearing a clan tartan when I don't know which if any clan should be part of?

[ozarkjacobite]

You can wear any tartan you choose & wear it proudly.

Welcome to XMTS from the Missouri Ozarks.

[gary meakin]

You CAN wear any tartan you like but you should know something about it. and please do not call the kilt a costume

[ctbuchanan]

And be ready with your answer when the MacDonalds hail you as a cousin. Just sing the praises of their tartan and you'll be fine. (Or you could fib a bit and claim a distant ggggggggrandfather and none would be the wiser.)

But to answer your question - here in the USA there are no rules, but there is etiquette. See above.

OR - simply blaspheme about the Campbells and no one will doubt you at all. :-)

[madmacs]

OR - simply blaspheme about the Campbells and no one will doubt you at all. :-)

[piperdbh]

Thompson is a Scots name, and there are a few tartans associated with it. How about getting one of them for your second kilt?

[Chas]

Hi Adam,

99.9% of the people you see will not know what tartan you are wearing.

Unless you tell them, no one will know that it is not your clan.

If asked, you can tell them that it is in fact MacDonald and then you add "It's on my mother's side".

No further questions or problems.

Why not have a post in the newbie section and get a proper welcome from everybody.

Regards

Chas

[adamjthompson]

please do not call the kilt a costume

My apologies.

Although, the kilt is not my costume, per se. I am just creating a costume that includes a kilt, so I would have an excuse to buy a kilt for normal wear. :-D Or is it heresy to use the words "kilt" and "costume" in the same sentence?

[opositive]

wear it because you like it, and wear it like you mean it.

[Sharkman]

It would be good not to mix the words "costume" and "kilt" in the same conversation. But by all means enjoy the McDonald kilt and wear it with pride.

And just to clarify!
Campbell's are simply misunderstood!