Feathers in your cap

[Cygnus]

With Highland dress, you may want to steer clear of feathers, especially large feathers, in your cap. This is partly because you'll undoubtedly be accosted/harassed by somebody who has taken it upon him-/herself to police the rest of the world and partly because tradition assigns particular meaning to the wearing of feathers in Scotland's traditional attire.

It is true that it is usually eagle feathers that denote a chief (three feathers), a chieftan or baron (two feathers), or a person with a registered coat of arms (one feather); though at least one chief I'm aware of wears pheasant feathers instead.

The consensus (though far from "general") when this topic arises (and it has a number of times) is to wear no feathers or smaller feathers with Highland dress to keep from appearing pretentious and to avoid unnecessary debate. If a person were to wear a feather or feathers about as tall as the military hackle, for instance, I doubt most people would take it to mean anything about the bearer except that he likes those feathers. Much taller than that, and you'd probably be likely to get an earful and/or dirty looks.

Obviously, you're entitled to do as you please, but traditionally, large feathers are reserved for clan leaders and armigers.

[Rós Ó hAllmhuráin]

With Highland dress, you may want to steer clear of feathers, especially large feathers, in your cap. This is partly because you'll undoubtedly be accosted/harassed by somebody who has taken it upon him-/herself to police the rest of the world and partly because tradition assigns particular meaning to the wearing of feathers in Scotland's traditional attire.

It is true that it is usually eagle feathers that denote a chief (three feathers), a chieftan or baron (two feathers), or a person with a registered coat of arms (one feather); though at least one chief I'm aware of wears pheasant feathers instead.

The general consensus when this topic arises (and it has a number of times) is to wear no feathers or smaller feathers with Highland dress to keep from appearing pretentious and to avoid unnecessary debate. If a person were to wear a feather or feathers about as tall as the military hackle, for instance, I doubt most people would take it to mean anything about the bearer except that he likes those feathers. Much taller than that, and you'd probably be likely to get an earful and/or dirty looks.

Obviously, you're entitled to do as you please, but traditionally, large feathers are reserved for clan leaders and armigers.

yes I got had up about having pheasant feathers in my hat years ago, told to take them out as I'd get in trouble with the lord lyon... I have a booklet somewhere that gives the impression that the lord lyon has no durastriction (sp) in New Zealand... wish I had known before the telling off.

[Nighthawk]

Until recently, I had refused to wear feathers in my bonnet. I have recently started, however. You see, I take a three mile hike around a lake every morning here in Colorado. The birds have, of course, been migrating. I was out walking about 2 weeks ago in a snow storm and a little duck crossed my path. I don't have the picture of him uploaded yet. He saw me and turned onto the path in front of me, waddling away as fast as his little flippers would carry him. In the process of trying to outrun me, he lost a couple of his tail feathers. They were absolutely beautiful and I thought to myself "What a wonderful little gift! How can I pass those up?" So I picked them up and have been wearing them ever since. And to make matters even more interesting, I ran across a lady recently who makes things from feathers. She's using my duck feathers and some turkey down to make a cockade for my hat badge. So having refused to wear feathers in my bonnet for my whole life, I finally have started- two lovely duck feathers and some down from turkey feathers.

[Downunder Kilt]

From previous threads on the wearing of eagle feathers in the USA, I believe that it is illegal to possess parts of certain animals, birds etc unless you have permission from the relevent Federal Department. Reference was made to the CITES convention. Using the search facility will bring up the previous threads.

Hope this helps in your quest

[pugcasso]

http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/webs...tries/53449549 You can vote once per day. So, please do so. Thank you very much for those who have voted ♥

[georgeetta]

hello,

I saw a note on early Black Watch uniform ..and bearskin was noted, also a vulture feather, maybe for it's blackness and another kind of feather . It was in an old text ..lateer they went on mention the red hackle .

when I've seen portraits way back 1750's up of Officers Ostritch was popular it was pinned somehow on the side adn went up sidewasy over the top .

[keith_mckirk]

A blue jay feather would look nice as well. I suppose a more scottish bird would be more appropriate maybe?

[georgeetta]

i saw the ref i was talking about ..it said black rooster feathers, vulture or eagle feathers as well as black bear skin piece .

th
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[keith_mckirk]

Oh Im not doubting the ones you listed. I was just thinking of the ones I mentioned like the Blue Jay.

[Cygnus]

yes I got had up about having pheasant feathers in my hat years ago, told to take them out as I'd get in trouble with the lord lyon... I have a booklet somewhere that gives the impression that the lord lyon has no durastriction (sp) in New Zealand... wish I had known before the telling off.

Lyon actually doesn't control the wearing of feathers - he does have jurisdiction over the actual use and bearing of arms, but not feathers. The feathers are purely traditional; though, as I've said before, I probably wouldn't wear any large feathers, both to avoid potential conflict and out of respect for tradition.