Wear of Clan Tartan by non-Clan Members

[Dixiecat]

I have had both emotional responses actually. Once at a ren fair I saw a young man sporting Clan Donald and when i approached him it turned out he wasn't a MacDonald and didn't even know what tartan he was wearing. Another time here it was asked if it would be okay to wear Clanranald even though he wasn't Clanranald and I felt honoured. Which way is the wind blowing?

I definitely understand where you are coming from and I am very very similar myself. Heritage is identity and it is what sets you apart and gives you a wonderful sense of uniqueness in this world.

I have a friend who sports the Claddagh ring and now I certainly don't mind, but in the beginning, when I saw them wearing it, I had asked her if she was Irish and she said no. Then, it almost seemed as though it became a competition over who had their Claddagh's the longest: me or her. The whole exchange was childish in the long run, but I took it to heart because I AM Irish-American and so very fiercely proud of it. That symbol was something of me, something of my identity and it was being worn by someone who doesnt share that identity. I wouldnt be being honest if I said it didnt get under my skin. It did. And that's just the Claddagh. If it was something like a clan symbol or tartan of mine, it would have been 100 times worse.

I recognize this protective characteristic in myself and I own up to it. I am protective of my heritage as well because I am a minority in my community so when it is being displayed by people who arent part of my heritage, it gets under my skin.

As someone without a clan though (though my last name was commonly used by MacGregors so theres definitely a possibility that that is where my clan affiliation lies, though I would never sport MacGregor stuff unless I knew it 100%), I really dont need to worry about this. In order to prevent it on my end, though, I would wear tartan that I DO have claim to: Co. Derry, Cork, Armagh, Tyrone, Irish-American, Irish National, Scottish Heritage, Scottish Islamic, etc. Tartans without a clan affiliation but still meaningful to my identity and to who I am.

Anyone with tartan sensitivities shouldn't ever attend a highland dance performance or competition. The nerve of those dancers wearing tartans that don't belong to them!