Feathers in your cap

**eagle43172** · 29th February 12, 09:52 AM

I've never been much of a feather fan myself, but I do regularly wear my clan plant badge (Oak). The Texas Red Oak in my back yard looks remarkably like the English Oak (I'm no botonist, so please don't critisize my simple view of trees). I really would like to see more plant badges worn, after all that is how the clansmen identified each other in times past.
Dave

**creagdhubh** · 29th February 12, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by eagle43172

I've never been much of a feather fan myself, but I do regularly wear my clan plant badge (Oak). The Texas Red Oak in my back yard looks remarkably like the English Oak (I'm no botonist, so please don't critisize my simple view of trees). I really would like to see more plant badges worn, after all that is how the clansmen identified each other in times past.
Dave

I almost always wear my clan's plant badge of white heather or boxwood, tucked behind my metal badge on my Balmoral bonnet, or sometimes affixed to my jacket lapel (with no tartan ribbon!). It's always a nice touch and very traditional amongst Macphersons.

Cheers,

**macwilkin** · 29th February 12, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by eagle43172

I've never been much of a feather fan myself, but I do regularly wear my clan plant badge (Oak). The Texas Red Oak in my back yard looks remarkably like the English Oak (I'm no botonist, so please don't critisize my simple view of trees). I really would like to see more plant badges worn, after all that is how the clansmen identified each other in times past.
Dave

Not to mention that a sprig of Bluebonnet would also be most appropriate!

T.

**SlackerDrummer** · 29th February 12, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

I never wear the single tall feather in the US, as there aren't many events where I see it as being appropriate.

Not to mention the fact that it would be illegal.

As to crow feathers...

**creagdhubh** · 29th February 12, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by SlackerDrummer

Not to mention the fact that it would be illegal.

As to crow feathers...

Quite so. If I did choose to wear a single tall feather in the US (for the proper occassion), then more than likely it would not be my Golden eagle feather from Scotland, rather a high-quality imitation made in the States.

Cheers,

**Alan H** · 29th February 12, 10:57 AM

I have a friend who does falconry for a hobby. Between my friend and his associates, they have quite a few birds of prey...owls, sparrowhawks, red tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks (my personal favorite) and even a golden eagle who was hurt, can't fly and was given to them as a rescue.

If that golden eagle sheds some feathers, and my friend gives me a feather, am I breaking the law?

Apparently so....

BTW, I have no intention of wearing feathers in my cap, this is just an academic question. If I WAS to wear a feather, I'd pick one from a red-shouldered hawk. There are two breeding pairs in the general neighborhood of where our athletic group practices and I see...and HEAR (they are very noisy) them all the time. I really like the birds. However, I'm not someone who gets much into adornment, so don't look for it to happen any time soon.

**Zardoz** · 29th February 12, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Alan H

I have a friend who does falconry for a hobby. Between my friend and his associates, they have quite a few birds of prey...owls, sparrowhawks, red tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks (my personal favorite) and even a golden eagle who was hurt, can't fly and was given to them as a rescue.

If that golden eagle sheds some feathers, and my friend gives me a feather, am I breaking the law?

Apparently so....

Alan, Damn near everything is illegal if you look hard enough!
I pick up Mockingbird (the Texas state bird) feathers now and then, and stick them in my hatband or whatever. The Mockingbird, like almost all nongame birds in the US, has been protected from hunting by state and federal laws for years, but I have no idea if just possessing the feathers is an issue.

**Moski** · 29th February 12, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

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

That was an apparently weak attempt at humor. As far as feathers go, 1,2, or 3 erect eagle feathers have meaning within the tradition. One or two Chiefs wear other feathers for personal preference. Any other feathers that don't significantly emulate them don't appear to be addressed in the tradition. Some people might get upset because "they" misunderstand but that's not on the wearer. The tradition is not modified to incorporate their ignorance. To do so is to dilute the tradition and is a disrespect of the particular significance of the array.

**Tobus** · 29th February 12, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by eagle43172

I've never been much of a feather fan myself, but I do regularly wear my clan plant badge (Oak). The Texas Red Oak in my back yard looks remarkably like the English Oak (I'm no botonist, so please don't critisize my simple view of trees). I really would like to see more plant badges worn, after all that is how the clansmen identified each other in times past.
Dave

Wasn't that debunked some time ago? As I recall (and I could be wrong, of course), plant badges didn't really come into vogue until well after the idea of "clan tartans", at which point the small sprigs would have been superfluous for identification. And even if they did pre-date clan-specific tartans, they seem like a really poor means of quick identification. I can't see Highlanders of the 18th century or earlier running around checking each others' bonnets up close before deciding whether they be friend or foe.

I wonder if the entire "plant badge" idea is simply legend or folklore.

**macwilkin** · 29th February 12, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Tobus

Wasn't that debunked some time ago? As I recall (and I could be wrong, of course), plant badges didn't really come into vogue until well after the idea of "clan tartans", at which point the small sprigs would have been superfluous for identification. And even if they did pre-date clan-specific tartans, they seem like a really poor means of quick identification. I can't see Highlanders of the 18th century or earlier running around checking each others' bonnets up close before deciding whether they be friend or foe.

I wonder if the entire "plant badge" idea is simply legend or folklore.

Not from Scottish history, but there is a documented story from the American Revolution of Loyalists under Major Patrick Ferguson's command in the Southern campaign wearing sprigs of evergreen in their hats to identify themselves as "The King's Men". Given Ferguson's Scottish nativity, it is quite possible the idea came from Scotland, although I certainly make no hard & fast claims that is its origin.

Patriot forces opposing Ferguson were known to wear slips of papers in their hats, similar to Tejano soldiers in the Texican Army at San Jacinto wearing slips bearing the words "Recuerden el Alamo!" to identify them in the heat of battle.

I do recall a story at Culloden of a member of the pro-government Argyll militia being captured by redcoats and barely escaping with his life, thanks to his cockade colour. I need to look that up and find the details.

While the plant badge's ancient pedigree may have been debunked, there is no doubt of its recognition of it as a bona fide clan symbol by many chiefs today.

T.