Quote Originally Posted by escherblacksmith View Post
Part of it (at least for me) is that there really aren't any ties from me to the old country. Sure, I can trace geneaology back to Lanarkshire, Scotland, and County Clare Ireland, and Bern, Switzerland and dozens of other places. But, all the culture I grew up with are a mix of South Dakota farmer and ex-military and Northern Mexico/Arizonian traditions and influences. So, although it would be nice to say, "I support Laird X and clan Y", the fact is, that I know nothing about them or their relative histories, or where my various family connections would fit with importance. So, I dabble. Was my family particularly Frame? Should I go with Burnett because it is closer to my name (and there are ties)? stay with the wife's connections? How does one, without any historical precedence, choose? I can't speak for others, but this is what I went through when having my first kilt made. As a side-note, there aren't any local groups tied to any of the clans/houses I'm tied to. So, it is pretty much entirely up to me.
Right,let us get this said right from the start, whatever tartan one chooses to wear it is hardly likely to end the world,now is it? I grant you that. However, as I understand it, you do have connections to a tartan. If you have no connection to any clan, is there a Swiss tartan? No state tartan? No military tartan that you could attach yourself to with a connection? Any other? Then a "universal " tartan is for you.The real point is this, many(not all) of us over here in Scotland, do not understand at all the need to have many tartans. When you have ONE, that is it! Many would regard having more than one tartan(apart from a regimental, dress,or,band tartan) as faintly distasteful and that is before we go down the expense route!