The Rules and Exceptions Thereunto.

[Doc Hudson]

I could very easily wear the Scottish National, the Flower of Scotland, the Bruce tartan or even the MacDonald Tartan.

See! It's not just the MacDonalds that remember the feud!

BTW, my wife's family is connected to the Campbells. Boy, oh boy can our arguements get hot!!!!

[Cawdorian]

It was not my intent to open any old fueds, I have to be very careful about this in my household, my wife is from the MacDonald Clan.

But on the flip side my great grandmother was a May, that is a sept of the MacDonald Clan. So I have an ancestral choice of either tartan.

Does this sound like the start of an addiction?

Jim

[Doc Hudson]

It was not my intent to open any old fueds, I have to be very careful about this in my household, my wife is from the MacDonald Clan.

But on the flip side my great grandmother was a May, that is sept of the MacDonald Clan. So I have an ancestral choice of either tartan.

Does this sound like the start of an addiction?

Jim

Yep, I'll wager y'all have some doozy arguements too.

Romeo and Juliet got nothing on us MacDonalds and Campbells do they?

[bubba]

Personally, I see nothing wrong with wearing military tartans per se as long as you don't wear insignia and decorations with it you're not entitled to. For example if you're wearing the Black Watch tartan don't wear regimental symbols and insignia with it unless you belong, or have belonged, to the Regiment.

[Cawdorian]

Doc,

This Campbell-MacDonald thing gets even worse in my family, my wife's sister married a Campbell, so I have a niece and a nephew out there who have a good mix of both clans in their blood and heritage.

Jim

[MacConnachie]

I surely now will be slaughtered-for it is really so very funny.

If I suggest that the 'unbifurcated garment' that is being worn is a skirt-there will be screams of anguish-threats, and of course strident claims that what is being worn is in fact associated with the wear of a highland clansman, and so empowered as truly masculine/Scottish wear: and the wearer is following an ancient tradition.

Yet if the conventions of the clansman are mentioned: there will be further screams of anguish, at the very suggeston that an individuals right of self determination is being inhibited.

What can a Brit say but: 'Really chaps, a bit off'.

Quite simply there are horses for courses, and if looking to the actual highland occasion: there are certain conventions which should be observed.

If on the other hand dressing in a certain way for whatever reason, that is up to the individual.

However we cannot have it both ways.

James

James, that's curious. It seems to me as though you had just indicated that "we" could have it both ways. Your last statement appears to be a contradiction, but English logic differs from that used in parts of North America.

If this be fashion, then it will shift, as assuredly as Oscar Wilde had remarked (it is one of my favorite quotes). If it be tradition, then that, too, will vary from region to region, from clan to clan. Several posts have made an excellent point.

If I were forced to wear highland dress in the manner specified by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association for those competing in Scottish games, I'd probably never kilt up again!!! Whoof, talk about being overly something-or-the-other. If that works for them, great! When in Rome . . .

However, in North America, I have some basic guidelines to which I attempt to adhere, although details of the outfit sort of "morph" in accordance with what I find acceptable to the situation. Some of these apply more particularly to pipe band dress, but others apply whenever I'm prepared to kilt up and be seen in public in such dress. I can tell you that the pipe band has AT LEAST six variants of what is considered standard dress for a gig, but the interesting thing about that is that despite whatever else is worn, the kilt itself is STANDARD.

Do I wear a dress skean dhu with a silk Jacobite shirt? Do I wear spats other than when on parade? Yes, no, maybe. . . These are but two of the myriad examples where the qualifier is, "It depends upon the situation."

Kilt up, try to look sharp when looking sharp is the point, and enjoy yourselves. I don't know if it's a simple as that, but I'm enough of a rebel that I think in the majority of situations, it works. Rules are made to be broken, just like crockery. Eventually, it will happen.

[Rob Wright]

Just a little note, not all clans are highland, sorry, it's a little point but those of us who come from the Great Lowland families are just as much part of Scottish heritage as the highlands.

Rob

[Dreadbelly]

Just a little note, not all clans are highland, sorry, it's a little point but those of us who come from the Great Lowland families are just as much part of Scottish heritage as the highlands.

Rob

Technically, the Douglases are both. I can not remember why, but I do remember reading it. Something about some stewardship or something.

[Rob Wright]

Technically, the Douglases are both. I can not remember why, but I do remember reading it. Something about some stewardship or something.

Well the Angus holdings were north of the Highland line and there is some connection with the Murray's .That's all I'm aware of.

Rob

[Dreadbelly]

Well the Angus holdings were north of the Highland line and there is some connection with the Murray's .That's all I'm aware of.

Rob

I am sure there is more than that.

Cousin, do remember, while we have never actually ruled over Scotland, our clan has oft been in control of those that do. Many things are different for us than they are for others. There are at least eleven bloodlines that were married in to, and all the power, holdings, and titles that those marriages brought.

Is not the history of Scotland our own?