Would you ever wear a feather in your cap, particularly in the U.S.?

[Jock Scot]

I've been curious about this myself. My surname is Swan and I've always thought it would be fitting to wear a swan feather in my cap!



Could you elaborate for those of us who are ignorant of Scottish traditions, Jock? I realize it would be a serious faux pas for me to wear an eagle feather or a feather dressed up to look like one, but are there traditions and conventions regarding the wear of other feathers?

I think by now that eagle feathers have been covered as far as Scots traditions go. There is certainly one Clan Chief who wears pheasant feathers instead. I don't know if he has not got eagle feathers to hand, or he prefers pheasant feathers, or perhaps it is a Clan tradition, but I am abolutely sure that wearing any feather, other than eagle feathers, will not tread on any Scots toe. Although many of us would wonder why any one else would bother.