Feathers in your cap

[Moski]

After all, if tradition were such a holy thing, clan chieftains would probably roll over in their graves seeing young Scotsmen wearing kilts and combat boots down to the local pub.

Why would that bee? In the height of the Clan system weren't kilts still everyday clothing, not stylized as we see today with rules or Conventions to observe. At one point and for quite some time over its history it was simply what a Highlander covered his bum with so as not to scare the English.

I wonder just how recent some of these con mentions are, how Lord High muck of Large bottom and Spread was rendered in portrait notwithstanding.

[Chas]

At one point and for quite some time over its history it was simply what a Highlander covered his bum with so as not to scare the English.

I think you will find, Moski, that the English (like most Europeans, Asians, Africans and a few Americans) also have bums.

As far as I am aware, in the whole of recorded history, there has never been an instance of an Englishman (or woman) (or anyone else for that matter), being remotely scared by a bum. Unless, of course, you have evidence to the contrary.

While we are talking about irrational fear and terror, what is it with Pennsylvanians and shoelaces?

Regards

Chas

[caig]

Silverquill68, I must say you are quite wrong when you say, " I think in today's world, much of the ancient tradition has fallen to the wayside in favor of styling of dress".

Certainly in Scotland, I can tell you that the tradition of wearing eagle feathers by Clan Chiefs, Chieftains and Armigers is conducted in the traditional manner and with great pride. And if you were in Scotland and wore an eagle feather incorrectly, somebody would have a quiet word with you.

I hope this thread does not undermine this fine Scottish tradition.

[Jock Scot]

Silverquill68, I must say you are quite wrong when you say, " I think in today's world, much of the ancient tradition has fallen to the wayside in favor of styling of dress".

Certainly in Scotland, I can tell you that the tradition of wearing eagle feathers by Clan Chiefs, Chieftains and Armigers is conducted in the traditional manner and with great pride. And if you were in Scotland and wore an eagle feather incorrectly, somebody would have a quiet word with you.

I hope this thread does not undermine this fine Scottish tradition.

Well said and thank you.

[Father Bill]

The value in traditional symbolism is that it is a set of visual indicators originally set up for a broadly illiterate people, so it is in itself a very real language. To mess with that sends all sorts of inaccurate signals and destroys a living language for the sake of a few individuals' fashion sense. That to me is a very, very poor trade that impoverishes the entire planet.

[Geoff Withnell]

The value in traditional symbolism is that it is a set of visual indicators originally set up for a broadly illiterate people, so it is in itself a very real language. To mess with that sends all sorts of inaccurate signals and destroys a living language for the sake of a few individuals' fashion sense. That to me is a very, very poor trade that impoverishes the entire planet.

And some of us that are at least semi-literate such as myself (big grin) often value such visual indicators as being more emotionally satisfying than spoken or written words. Well said, Sir!

[creagdhubh]

I sometimes wear a single tall (Golden) eagle feather (gifted to me by another Clan Macpherson armiger whilst in Scotland) in my Balmoral bonnet, as I am indeed armigerous, however, I do not do this every time I am wearing Highland dress, specifically, Highland day attire and outdoors wearing a bonnet. I tend to only wear my single tall feather at several events in Scotland, to include the annual Clan Macpherson gathering and rally in the summertime in Badenoch, to Cluny's luncheon the Wednesday after the gathering and rally, at Newton Castle in Blairgowrie, and perhaps to other Highland games throughout Scotland that I may choose to partake in.

The majority of the time, a simple clansman's badge or armiger badge (circlet with our without a metal feather) will do. I have never worn the single tall feather in the US, as there aren't many events where I see it as being appropriate. I simply wear only my bonnet badge.

Cheers,

[macwilkin]

The value in traditional symbolism is that it is a set of visual indicators originally set up for a broadly illiterate people, so it is in itself a very real language. To mess with that sends all sorts of inaccurate signals and destroys a living language for the sake of a few individuals' fashion sense. That to me is a very, very poor trade that impoverishes the entire planet.

Padre, that is probably one of the best posts I have ever read on this forum. That is very similar to a point I used to make in my basic heraldry talks when I worked as a genealogy library about the value of heraldry -- I actually used the example of the adopted arms of saints and apostles as a "teaching tool".

Spot on, Padre!

T.

[creagdhubh]

Well said and thank you.

Agreed.

[Atlanta Kiltie]

I wear the tip end of a peacock feather in my non uniform Balmoral bonnet. The peacock feather was gifted to me by a friend and drummer in the band when I was appointed as Drum Major as the Drum Major is referred to as the peacock. Unfortunately that friend died a couple of years ago and I wear the feather to honor her and as a non uniform symbol of the honor the band gave me by appointing me as their peacock. I have yet to have an encounter with the bonnet feather police. May God continue His blessing on my luck.