Of Two Clans

[Jock Scot]

Perhaps I am the odd man out, but in my view strict patrilineal clan affiliation ought to be left by the wayside, because it does not reflect modern sensibilities: when a woman marries, she neither ceases to be a member of her biological family nor surrenders her own identity. Possibly, this view is influenced, first, by my having Scottish ancestry entirely matrilineal side and, second, by my mother being a very strong-willed, independent woman. In any event, tt is for these reasons that believe folks should determine the tartan(s) they have familial and/or regional connection(s) with, and then pick whichever one they like best. (That is what I did/do.)

Perhaps my dear wife's example would be considered more traditional? My wife before she married her first husband wore her father's Clan tartan and no other. When in due course she married she then wore her husband's tartan and no other. After his untimely death, she continued to wear his tartan, until she (thank goodness) married me and now, purely voluntarily I may add, she wears my tartan and no other. Her children from the first marriage, when old enough, were offered the choice of their father's tartan, or mine. Quite correctly in my view, they decided to wear their late father's tartan.

Some of you may be interested that both my wife and me have several different Clan tartans that we could wear, through family connections, if we so choose. In fact, my family for several generations choose to wear just one. We are not alone in Scotland in doing so and I would suggest, that is traditional thinking here.