Another question about clans--adopted children

**cessna152towser** · 30th January 13, 04:42 AM

From a Scottish perspective, many servants historically took the surname of the laird whom they served, so I would see no objection to anyone wearing the tartan of the family who adopted them.

**Jock Scot** · 30th January 13, 04:52 AM

Not quite the same situation, but nearly. When I re-married I "inherited " step children, when they were old enough to choose they were offered the choice of wearing "my" tartan, or the tartan of their late father's. They made their choice and that is fully respected by all. In your position , why not ask your cousin and then respect his decision? It is no other's business other than your family's.

**TheOfficialBren** · 30th January 13, 05:06 AM

That is a very good point, Alex. It's quite historically sound.

Jock, that just makes sense! Thank you for sharing the personal annecdote. I will ask him if the subject comes up.

Thanks, chaps.

**Laird_M** · 30th January 13, 05:53 AM

My eldest is from my wife's first marriage and he has fully embraced his adopted heritage.

As JS and Cessna point out, its quite acceptable.

Historically bondsmen and vassals and those 'fostered' by another Clan often wore a tartan of the Clan they joined. And as Chas so succintly points out, it shouldn't ever be made an issue. Shehan is a member of our Clan, so will wear MacLeod tartan with pride.

Originally, the Scottish Tartan was a distinction of rank or position. It was not identified by weave but by the number of colours in the weave. If only one colour was used it depicted a servant, two, a farmer rank, three, an officer rank, five, a chieftain, six for a poet, and seven for a Chief. Eventually, clans or families adopted their own tartan, using a range of animal and earth colours which were frequently secret, only known to the weavers of the islands. They included yellows, blues, whites, greens, browns, reds, black and purple. Some say that a keen eye can identify the colour with a particular island, almost like a wine taster can identify the year and the vineyard. Obviously this restriction is not followed these days, and most tartans are just 'ancient', 'hunting' etc., so there is no reason why he can't wear his adopted clan's tartan.

**Paul Henry** · 30th January 13, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by Laird_M

snip....
Originally, the Scottish Tartan was a distinction of rank or position. It was not identified by weave but by the number of colours in the weave. If only one colour was used it depicted a servant, two, a farmer rank, three, an officer rank, five, a chieftain, six for a poet, and seven for a Chief. Eventually, clans or families adopted their own tartan, using a range of animal and earth colours which were frequently secret, only known to the weavers of the islands. They included yellows, blues, whites, greens, browns, reds, black and purple. Some say that a keen eye can identify the colour with a particular island, almost like a wine taster can identify the year and the vineyard. Obviously this restriction is not followed these days, and most tartans are just 'ancient', 'hunting' etc., so there is no reason why he can't wear his adopted clan's tartan.

Where on earth do you get this idea from,it's complete nonsense, whilst there are instances of finer cloth being used for wealthier people or perhaps an unusual colour for a special person, the idea that you can classify tartans or wearer of tartan in this way is just another one of the many romanticisms and are simply without credibility and shouldn't be broadcast as fact

**Laird_M** · 30th January 13, 06:30 AM

Can't remember where I got the info, but it was from several sources. But then again, you shouldn't beleive everythign you read I guess.

**Jock Scot** · 30th January 13, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by Laird_M

Can't remember where I got the info, but it was from several sources. But then again, you shouldn't beleive everythign you read I guess.

I too have seen this written and indeed spoken about from time to time, but I have always considered it as a prime example of, " tourist board clap-trap".

**Dale Seago** · 30th January 13, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by paulhenry

Where on earth do you get this idea from,it's complete nonsense, whilst there are instances of finer cloth being used for wealthier people or perhaps an unusual colour for a special person, the idea that you can classify tartans or wearer of tartan in this way is just another one of the many romanticisms and are simply without credibility and shouldn't be broadcast as fact

That whole color-scheme thing rang a bell and I was pretty sure it had to do with ancient Irish society from before the Gaelic colonization of Scotland; so I did a little looking around, and:

We are told in our legendary history that exact regulations for the wearing of colours by the different ranks of people were made by King Tigerumas (Teernmas) and by his successor, many centuries before the Christian era - a slave was to be dressed in clothes of one colour; a peasant or farmer in two; and so on up to a king and queen and an ollave of any sort: all of whom were privileged to wear six.

At the present day green is universally regarded as the national colour; but this is a very modern innovation, and as a matter of fact the ancient Irish had no national colour.
(http://www.alia.ie/tirnanog/sochis/xviiib.html)

**ThistleDown** · 30th January 13, 12:27 PM

Yes, that's one of those sites, Dale. Tir na Nog is about mythology and legend.

**Paul Henry** · 30th January 13, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by Dale Seago

That whole color-scheme thing rang a bell and I was pretty sure it had to do with ancient Irish society from before the Gaelic colonization of Scotland; so I did a little looking around, and:

I know all about this, and I'm afraid that it is also rather fanciful, the stuff of myths and legends, and although there might be a few grains of truth somewhere within the stories , but not enough to be very creditable.