What does "my clan" or "my chief" mean?

[McFarkus]

These days it probably makes more sense, especially for those of us in the Scottish Diaspora, to think of the clan more loosely as a family association. That said, some clans are more organized than others.

For instance, the House of Gordon has state and regional coordinators here in the US. According to their website

The House of Gordon USA began as a branch of the Scottish Incorporation of the House of Gordon, set up by the current chief's father, Douglas Gordon, 12th Marquess of Huntly.

They maintain relatively close ties. I understand that the Earl of Aboyne, son of the current chief, is coming to the US for a House of Gordon event this year.

That said,

The Gordon clan since the 15th century has included both Highland and Lowland
branches of the family and also has branches of the family in Russia, Germany,
Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United
States as well as other parts of the world. It was felt that to be called a Highland Clan
only did not truly reflect the history of the Gordons, therefore the Chief chose to call
the clan by the name House of Gordon.

[timseh]

As a relative newcomer here, I'd like to share my thoughts on this...

I've been doing a lot of digging into my family history recently and have learned some fascinating things, especially when it comes to my ties to Scotland (and other countries as well) and the history behind it.

The very idea of the old clan system is a highly romanticized fantasy for me. (did that make sense?) It's an ideal that represents, as others have said, something bigger than myself. Something I can be a part of and that helps me to define, somewhat, what I am and where I came from.

Being separated from that for several centuries, however, made it difficult for me to really make that connection solid in my mind. That was a bit disappointing until I realized that I currently belong to what I see as one of the best modern examples of what the clans once were... true, the analogy isn't perfect. The members of my clan don't tend to be blood relatives, but we have a shared history, shared experience, strong traditions and can easily identify our "Chief".

I'm a Marine. (There is no such thing as an Ex Marine, after all.) My Tartan is the USMC Leatherneck, my Clan Motto is Semper Fidelis and my Clan Chieftan is General James Conway. My brothers are all those who wear or have worn the Eagle Globe & Anchor with honor.

I've identified ties to Clan Stirling and Clan MacAlpine if I take my lineage back far enough, but those mean little to me. The Corps is my clan.

Just my thoughts for what they're worth.

[wyldathart]

What others in this thread have stated is pretty much true for me as well. I know the the word clan holds something different now and that it was highly romanticized. I also know that the Tartans aren't that important in this day and age.
The reason I enjoy the whole Scottish thing is because it appeals to me. I like wearing a kilt in my clans tartan. It makes me feel good. I like wearing a Balmoral with my clan badge. I like wearing a 13 " blade on my belt because it makes me feel good. I think thats where folks get the idea that wearing a kilt changes your demeanor, because it does. It makes you feel good and you act differently. It puts a spring in your step.
Now do I take it really seriously? Not really, I know my chief isn't gonna ring up one day and call me to arms lol. I know that I'll never have to pull out my dirk and slice some fool to bits ( Although sometimes I think some people deserve it LOL ) The point is all of it makes me feel good, and in a time like this we all need something to put a spring in our step.

[Bugbear]

Scotus, I've had to set aside much of what my family believes about itself, and almost everything on my father's side of the family, in relation to clans.
My view is that the word "clan" has changed and expanded. We can talk about clans in a historical sense, and it's probably best not to bring any of that expanded definition along for the discussion, but we are dealing also with here and now and our kilts etc.

I try to keep in mind that the chiefe of a clan decides which tartans are and are not clan tartans; for example, with the MacMillan Black tartan issue.

However, in the here and now, I have no problem with, for example, a person who has served calling their branch of the military a clan and the tartan a clan tartan. like the Leather Neck tartan. Nor with the XMTS tartan being thought of and called a clan tartan.

I only hope that people try to be aware that many tartans have this kind of meaning, or are actual clan tartans, and keep this in mind when discussing or wearing the tartan. That is, that many tartans have meanings for and connections to groups of people.

[Scotus]

We can talk about clans in a historical sense

Yes, when I asked the questions, I meant "clan" in the historic sense. In no way do I consider X Marks a "clan." I meant what it means to individuals in the historic, Scottish sense. Ted, you bring up an important point I didn't; that is, it's the chief who decides what the clan tartan is and isn't. This, of course, is significant for people (like myself) who find the historic connection to a clan to be important in their lives.

[Bugbear]

Yes, exactly. I understand. There is also the Black Watch. It is not a clan tartan, but has a great deal of meaning, and a great deal of that meaning is historical.

Anyway, I understand where you're coming from, Scotus.

[macwilkin]

Of course it should be noted that a number of scholars, including the late Jamie Scarlett, believed that the clan tartan orginated from the tartans of the Highland regiments...

Regards,

Todd

[gilmore]

Of course it should be noted that a number of scholars, including the late Jamie Scarlett, believed that the clan tartan orginated from the tartans of the Highland regiments...

Regards,

Todd

Even the red Morrison? I would doubt that conclusion.

[Bugbear]

Well, I've read that here and there too, and I wouldn't know enough to really know.

My point was, perhaps, it could be tolorated when someone calls the Marines a clan and the Leather Neck tartan a clan tartan or "my clan tartan." Same for the XMTS tartan etc; with the understanding, of course, that it is not the same meaning of the term "clan" as Scotus is using.

Also, that the group tartan folk respect that Scotus means by clan tartan, the tartan that the cheif of his clan has declared to be the clan tartan. Most of all, that we avoid statements, as I have seen from time to time, insulting or degrading to a tartan of meaning.

[gilmore]

...I am very aware, however, that absence makes the heart grow fonder, that distance can obliterate memories of hardship and suffering and give the individual a pair of rose-tinted spectacles about many things others might prefer to forget. As a result, there are probably no greater adherents to the clan system, no bigger consumers of shortbread, haggis and scotch whisky, no more enthusiastic attendees at Burns suppers, no more assiduous exponents of highland dancing, piping and the learning of Gaelic than are those from the great Scottish diaspora, many separated by several generations from their roots. This is not to say, however, that any of them would actually consider returning to live the dream, preferring instead to pontificate from afar.
For a Scot born and bred and actually living in the country, however, clans have very little relevance beyond the name on a nice tartan and to bend the knee to any upstart calling themselves a "clan chief" would be totally unthinkable.
...

I have often thought how ironic it sometimes is at highland games in the US when some people become so enthused over the titled clan chiefs in attendance (not that most of them aren't swell fellows,) but either don't know or choose not to remember that it was the heavy-handedness and cruelty of the ancestors of some of these same chiefs that caused the ancestors of some present-day clan afficianados to emigrate to the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, in the Clearances and other such oppression. There are reasons why they left Scotland, as well as reasons why Scots government, society, and culture have changed over the centuries.