tartans more easily accepted than non-tartan?

**macwilkin** · 2nd January 05, 08:06 PM

My mothers side of the family has a coat of arms, and I'd ba annoyed to see someone who's not a Hall touting that as their coat of arms. I'd assume the same goes with clan tartans.

Coat-of-arms are a whole different ball game, Alan, especially when it comes to Scottish arms -- there is no such thing as a "family" coat of arms in Scotland, contrary to what the "bucket shops" over here try to tell (and sell) people. Arms in Scotland (and the rest of the UK) belong to an individual, not a family. Scotland has one of the strictest protocols involving the granting and displaying of arms. Even the Chief's Arms are his arms, not the clan's arms (unless he registers arms with the Lyon Court, the office of heraldry in Scotland, for the society, which has been done by several Chiefs for Clan Societies) -- the crest badge is the crest (the top part of the arms) of the Chief, and signifies that the wearer is a member of the clan.

Sorry to get off track, but heraldry is one of my passions. :mrgreen:

Don't forget the Scottish District Tartans as well -- some of the district tartans are the "great-grandaddy" of the concept of "clan" tartans, and I wish more people would choose to wear the tartan of their ancestors district.

Cheers,

T.

**Riverkilt** · 2nd January 05, 11:38 PM

Hey Alan,

Checked your profile and found your website...you sure you don't have some Scot blood in the woodpile??

Most of us don't know our full genealogy...just at the 3 great grandparent level you have 32 ancestors...possibly a Scot lurks in your bloodline... might be fun to search if you haven't already.

As for the original question, I think the solids make me look less like a "Catholic school girl" but also proudly wear my clan tartan and district tartan.

Enjoy the solids for day to day wear and tartan for formal wear.

Ron

**The Wizard of BC** · 3rd January 05, 04:09 AM

I'll throw my two cents in here if I may.
I too would not wear a tartan I feel I have not earned. Whether it be by blood or other affiliation.
My searches have not turned up any firm clan affiliation. Just a vague line, 250 years removed.
My solution is-- I wear the US Marine Corps Tartan for formal events. For daily wear I have plain kilts. Or, if I feel adventurous, I wear one of the Camoflauge prints I have. During my 20 years, I have worn each of them. In combat. In my mind that is earning enough. That is why I chose to offer the camo prints I do. I also know that to my adopted Canadian neighbours that may seem strange. Even morbid to some.
But darn it, I like kilts. So when someone looks at me in my Desert Storm Camo kilt and ask "What clan is that?" I, in my best imitation of a Scottish burr respond, "It is the HOMSOT clan." They always nod knowingly and move on.
HOMSOT = Halls of Montezuma/Shores of Tripoli

**The Wizard of BC** · 3rd January 05, 04:11 AM

Whoa, way too heavy there Steve.
I appoligise to all. It's late. I've just heard I have lost another of my buddies. And I plan to be very drunk by dawn.

**Riverkilt** · 3rd January 05, 10:27 AM

Blood is heavy...

Semper Fi,

Ron

Pittsburgh Kilts · 3rd January 05, 11:04 AM

My question for you, Alan, is this:

Are you wearing a kilt to be accepted, or to be your own man?

**bubba** · 3rd January 05, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

Whoa, way too heavy there Steve.
I appoligise to all. It's late. I've just heard I have lost another of my buddies. And I plan to be very drunk by dawn.

Steve, condolences. I know the feeling well so drink to the living, a toast to the dead and remember them with honor and pride.

**Alan H** · 3rd January 05, 07:01 PM

To get back to where we started.....

What do folks have to say about spouses/girlfriends/general public dealing with tartan kilts, especially if accompnied by sporrans, kilt hose, etc.. more easily than non-tartan ones?

**Andrew Breecher** · 4th January 05, 12:58 AM

I don't currently have a girlfriend, but have met girls while wearing a kilt (since it's all I wear now), and have gone on dates with them. In general, with girls and the general public, the reaction to my khaki UtiliKilt is "Wow, I didn't know there were cargo kilts. That's really cool." People see it as a kilt, no problems. And all my friends think it's neat that I can fit four fifths of whiskey in the cargo pockets.

While I do always wear a sporran with my tartan kilts (so I have somewhere to keep a wallet, keys, and phone), I don't always wear hose and flashes - black boots look just as good with a tartan kilt as with a khaki one. It isn't the accoutrements that make a kilt.

Andrew.

**James** · 4th January 05, 04:06 AM

A quite fascinating series of posts, for together they highlight so many of the problems and questions that concern us all, at this time when the kilt is manifesting itself in many new ways.

To illustrate this, there are many who see the 'man + tartan = kilt' and so ok: and there are others who see the 'man + not tartan = skirt' and so questionable.

Just as there are many who feel that a clan tartan should only be worn by an actual member of that clan; which of course contradicts the views of many others.

I could go on, citing such things: rather it is an interesting time, and I look with interest to what the future will bring. My hope being that a spirit of tolerence will prevail, and men can have the ability to dress as they please.

James