Wear of Clan Tartan by non-Clan Members

[Muddy]

I also find it kind of ironic that our own Hamish is like a PILLAR on this site and he's got what? 100+ kilts?
I highly doubt he's got a "legitimate" family connection to all 100+ tartans. Nobody's busting his chops nor should they. He and his collection is celebrated as they should be.

[kiltbook]

I agree that universal tartans are always a good choice, but again, there are differences of opinion. I find it interesting that the Stewart tartans now make the list of universal tartans. I remember a time when some "tartan authorities" considered the Royal Stewart tartan to not be appropriate for use by commoners (and where are the Stewart royals?), and the concept of the Stewart Black tartan being a universal tartan is rather new also. I suspect that the current list of clan tartans that are considered appropriate for use by the masses reflects that fact that the masses (particularly pipe bands) choose to wear them.

A minority of tartan authorities are of the opinion that only male members of the current Royal Family may wear the kilt in the Royal Stewart tartan. However, the vast majority of tartan vendors and scholars consider Royal Stewart and Black watch to be THE universal Scots tartans. They consider the Balmoral tartan to be the true Royal tartan.

Stewart tartans are also worn by members of Clan Stewart, although their actual clan tartan is called Stewart Old. Black Stewart tartan is considered to be a fashion variation of the Royal Stewart tartan with the red background changed to black. It was developed by a tartan mill during the Victorian era as a universal sett or Royal sett that could be worn for funerals, i.e. as a mourning tartan. I know some who would never wear Black Stewart tartan because they feel it is a morbid or morose choice. It also has racial connotations, some Black Scots and African-Americans who have Scots blood wear the Black Stewart tartan, in addition to or in place of their Clan tartan, to show pride in their Scots heritage.

Where are the Stewart royals? Well the current members of the Royal Family, the House of Windsor, trace their lineage back to the Royal House of Stewart via King James the son of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Black watch, is the official tartan of Clan Campbell. Black watch is also known as Campbell modern, Grant hunting, and Munro hunting, so it is worn as a Clan tartan by several Clans. Black watch tartan is also not a good choice for the Irish because members of the regiment were responsible for atrocities in Ireland.

Other universal tartans include: Flower of Scotland, Scottish National, and Freedom tartan. All Boy Scouts and former Boy Scouts may wear the MacLaren tartan.

Hopefully, this information will help others pick a good universal tartan.

[Paul Henry]

A minority of tartan authorities are of the opinion that only male members of the current Royal Family may wear the kilt in the Royal Stewart tartan. However, the vast majority of tartan vendors and scholars consider Royal Stewart and Black watch to be THE universal Scots tartans. They consider the Balmoral tartan to be the true Royal tartan.

Stewart tartans are also worn by members of Clan Stewart, although their actual clan tartan is called Stewart Old. Black Stewart tartan is considered to be a fashion variation of the Royal Stewart tartan with the red background changed to black. It was developed by a tartan mill during the Victorian era as a universal sett or Royal sett that could be worn for funerals, i.e. as a mourning tartan. I know some who would never wear Black Stewart tartan because they feel it is a morbid or morose choice. It also has racial connotations, some Black Scots and African-Americans who have Scots blood wear the Black Stewart tartan, in addition to or in place of their Clan tartan, to show pride in their Scots heritage.

Where are the Stewart royals? Well the current members of the Royal Family, the House of Windsor, trace their lineage back to the Royal House of Stewart via King James the son of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Black watch, is the official tartan of Clan Campbell. Black watch is also known as Campbell modern, Grant hunting, and Munro hunting, so it is worn as a Clan tartan by several Clans. Black watch tartan is also not a good choice for the Irish because members of the regiment were responsible for atrocities in Ireland.

Other universal tartans include: Flower of Scotland, Scottish National, and Freedom tartan. All Boy Scouts and former Boy Scouts may wear the MacLaren tartan.

Hopefully, this information will help others pick a good universal tartan.

I'm not quite sure all of your information is correct, and I'd love to see your sources, but more than all of that , on this forum we are careful not to include political comment or statements, because there are likely to comments on both sides which often lead to good threads getting closed, and that would be a shame with this one.

[Meggers]

on this forum we are careful not to include political comment or statements, because there are likely to comments on both sides which often lead to good threads getting closed, and that would be a shame with this one.

I think that applies mostly to advertising our own political opinions. Everything political that he shared was relevant to the post Im not a mod, but closing this thread because of that is going a little too far with censorship.

[Skiballa]

Black watch, is the official tartan of Clan Campbell. Black watch is also known as Campbell modern, Grant hunting, and Munro hunting, so it is worn as a Clan tartan by several Clans. Black watch tartan is also not a good choice for the Irish because members of the regiment were responsible for atrocities in Ireland.

Oh man, I'm a Campbell descendant with a mix of Scottish and Irish blood, does this mean I have to commit atrocities on myself? And what about all those Irish Catholic schoolgirls wearing Black Watch skirts, man, you better go tell someone, before they find out what they're representing and a long downward spiral into depression and despair begins.

You might as well add Campbell of Argyll and Dress Campbell to the list of universal tartans, MacCailein Mor doesn't recognize either for use by the clan.

[creagdhubh]

I was a Fleet Marine Force Navy Corpsman. I wore the Marine fatigue uniform (albeit with my Navy insignia), ate their chow, slept in their barracks, went through some of their training, complied with their regulations and went through some of their experiences. That does not make me a Marine. For that reason, I would not wear the Leatherneck tartan, although I admire it a great deal, not only because I think it is beautiful, but because I respect what it means. Some Marines would not object to me wearing it. Others might. My wearing it would belie my respect for it and for them. Maybe I'll design a FMF Medical Corps tartan at some future time. If so, I will wear it with pride, not the least bit concerned with dishonoring any Marines or the Corps.

***

Thank you again for your service, David. FMF Navy Corpsman are ferociously 'protected' by all Marine Corps Infantrymen, if not by all who wear the U.S. Marine Corps uniform, regardless of their MOS. We have always held our Naval brethren in the highest regard, for it is them we completely depend upon when things get a bit rough whilst in combat. Some of my best mates whilst serving on active-duty were FMF Navy Corpsman.

Semper Fidelis brother...

[Kilted Cole]

Yeah.

And speaking of respect, I think you should cut Meghan a little slack. She, like all of us, is an enthusiast and expresses that enthusiasm. I assume good will on her part which isn't served by a sharply critical response. Take a breath. (literally) Noone is being attacked.

Sorry for the communication error. I was meaning to complement her, even if it didn't come out that way, since she beat me to the punch of explaining that I did understand DT's statement but merely disagreed. If anything I owe Meghen a big THANK YOU! For what she had stated. I do believe Meghan has shown some of the best qualities in an xmarker as to how to tactfully disagree with people without it coming across as insulting. My hat is off to you Meg.

[Kilted Cole]

"Smart fellow", NOT

Cheeky bloke! lol j/k

[David Thorpe]

***

Thank you again for your service, David. FMF Navy Corpsman are ferociously 'protected' by all Marine Corps Infantrymen, if not by all who wear the U.S. Marine Corps uniform, regardless of their MOS. We have always held our Naval brethren in the highest regard, for its them we completely depend upon when things get a bit rough whilst in combat. Some of my best mates whilst serving on active-duty were FMF Navy Corpsman.

Semper Fidelis brother...

Thank YOU, Kyle. It's a mutual admiration and respect thing that some folks can't possibly understand. And that's OK.

OOH-rah!

[Meggers]

Oh man, I'm a Campbell descendant with a mix of Scottish and Irish blood, does this mean I have to commit atrocities on myself?

Hahaha I might actually have you beat. I am Catholic Northern Irish, Scottish, English (though we don't mention that one at family reunions. I kid! I kid!), and Hessen German. A branch of my Irish side also lived in Cork and the Hessens were pretty notorious for causing some havok with the Cork Irish. lol. Im surprised I dont have a major identity crisis going on