Wear of Clan Tartan by non-Clan Members

[creagdhubh]

I think the Harley example is a bit off... as a teen, I wore many harley shirts and never owned one. I simply liked the bikes and supported "team harley" over "team honda".

If you continue down this road / line of thinking, you arrive at the sports team metaphor. If I wear a Philadelphia Flyers jersey, will people think I'm on their roster or work in the Flyers front office? No, but I support the team. Will they be disappointed or upset to learn I'm not on the team? Likely not.

The Rabble sucked you in, Rocky! Hahaha! Just kidding mein Deutsche freund.

Prost,

[Friday]

What I like about this type of discussion is that the term "Clan" is never discussed or defined. Many members of a Clan may not have had the same name as the Clan Chief and may not be related by blood. Look at the numbers ofsept associated with many clans.

If you have Scottish ancestry there is a chance that you are related to all the Scottish Clans. People moved across the country during wars and for other reasons. It is well known that during these travels that young males would never talk to or pay any attention to the local ladies. Since they never paid any attention they could never have left unexpected gifts.

[turbodog]

Yup, this is it. Though I would go a bit further and say it's more than convention. It sort of comes down to etiquette and manners. Just as wearing a Masonic ring would be unmannerly if you're not a Mason. Humans use clothing as symbols of who they are, and that's exactly what a clan tartan has been for about two centuries now, more or less. Even using a meaningless symbol like a Harley-Davidson logo on a t-shirt identifies you to others as someone who owns a Harley. If you display a symbol that has meaning to a group, you are (intentionally or not) telling others you're a part of that group. If it turns out that you're not a part of that group, some people take it as a breach of convention or a breach of etiquette.

The origin of "clan tartans" was a bit dubious, and obviously contrived, but it nonetheless exists today and has a fairly long tradition. You may wear whatever tartan you choose, but some will frown on it. You may not know they're frowning, or you may not care even if you did know. Make your choice based on whether it bothers you that others will be bothered by it. If you find that you don't care what they think, then wear whatever you like. No one will arrest you for it.

In a nutshell sir. Well said.

[xman]

As has probably already been stated, there are no tartan police. Wear what you like, but be ready to have an answer if you are questioned by a clansman. For example my friend and dragon boat coach, Todd Wong wears two tartans, Loud MacLeod because Wong means gold in Chinese, and Fraser Hunting because he is a graduate of Simon Fraser University. Not having a clan or tartan of his own (yet?), this is the best he can do to kilt up.

[Meggers]

As has probably already been stated, there are no tartan police. Wear what you like, but be ready to have an answer if you are questioned by a clansman. For example my friend and dragon boat coach, Todd Wong wears two tartans, Loud MacLeod because Wong means gold in Chinese, and Fraser Hunting because he is a graduate of Simon Fraser University. Not having a clan or tartan of his own (yet?), this is the best he can do to kilt up.

Im the stubborn and overprotective type that would be annoyed if some Random was wearing "my clan" (assuming I had a clan) tartan with no reason, but the way your friend does it would not bother me becuase he seems to be recognizing that hes sporting a clan tartan but he's not doing it to falsely represent the clan, AND he's not doing it ignorantly. If someone wore a Walker tartan and said "Im not a Walker but I sure do love those shortbread cookies" then it's really not a big deal to me since they're recognizing that they are not actually representing Walkers and, instead, they are honoring something that has the word "Walker" in it. Idk. Im more or less "thinking out loud" here. I just know that I'm the type that would be like "umm.....whatcha doing sporting my kilt" if I saw it being worn by someone who has no claim to it. The way your friend does it seems to be a very reasonable and non-offensive way to wear a tartan that isn't "yours".

[English Bloke]

Here is an article written by Matt Newsome in 2007 (clickety click). Although it was written a few years ago I have only just come across it. It does however pretty much sum up everything I feel about how the Kilt fits into my life for me (I'm category four in case you hadn't noticed).

Nicely put by the way Matt. Couldn't have summed it up better mee-own-self.

Just thought you might like to have a shufftie. Anyway, after recent ruminations of where I'm at with Kilts and Kilt Fora, I'm off to do a bit more wearing of the Kilt and a little less talking about it. I'll be back when I have something interesting and original to add.

[Kilted Cole]

"I suspect that those who today suggest the kilt is actually an English garment may have ulterior motives. Perhaps they enjoy acting like someone “in on the secret” at Scottish gatherings. People like believing that they have privileged knowledge. These ideas could also be attractive to those non-Scots tempted to wear the kilt, but who assume one must have Scottish blood in order to do so. If the kilt is really an English garment, then the question of ethnicity doesn’t matter so much.

To them I say, go ahead – wear the kilt! But don’t feel the need to justify it with false history. We have much to learn from Rawlinson in that regard. He was an Englishman who felt at ease adopting the Highland dress as his own. And if we are to believe John Taylor, another Englishman who visited the Highlands one hundred years before Rawlinson, the tradition of non-Scots adopting the Highland garb is a long one. In his account of his visit to Braemar in 1618, he wrote, “As for their attire, any man of whatsoever degree that comes among them must not disdain to wear it; for if they do then they will disdain to hunt… but if men be kind to them, and be in their habit, then they are conquered with kindness, and sport will be plentiful.”

So non-Scots certainly may wear the kilt. But when you do so, remember that you are wearing the Scottish National Dress! "

A quote from Newsome's site. I personally am of the school that since tartan wasn't originally designed as "by clan", if anything your paying a complement to the clan who's colors your sport'n. IMHO make sure pleats are in the rear, aprons to the front, and don't make a donkey of yourself wearing it and one shouldn't have too much of an issue. Keep in mind, not to be disrepectfull but.....if someone is a member of either the fassion police or the tartan police I usually refuse to assosiate myself with them. When at gathering's or burn's night's it's probably more appropriate to wear a tartan that you have a close affiliation with, but again as stated by many already, there is no concrete law by wich you could have fines levied against you or possible jail time.....well at least not for about 200 and a few extra yrs now.. I personally have 1 kilts who's clan affiliated tartan I have NO connection with at all, the colors look good on me and complement many of my outfitts, and I think the said tartan is georgeous! I have never once been asked my personal affiliation to that clan, just simply "what clan is that?" I tell the questioning person and then the conversation either goes further into why I chose to wear the kilt or the conversation ends. But I'm ranting and few by now are probably still reading at this length. It boils down to how you go about wearing it. Out of respect, or as a costume. If the later....well your probably not a member of this site and are 3 sheet's through pledge week or homecoming.

[David Thorpe]

I personally am of the school that since tartan wasn't originally designed as "by clan", if anything your paying a complement to the clan who's colors your sport'n.

How very kind of you to pay such a "complement". Is it a complement if it is perceived as an affront, an insult or a fraud?

Regardless of the origins of clan tartan designs, they have in the majority of cases at least some 200 years of association with the clans since -- some less and some longer. To many people, seeing someone wearing their clan tartan identifies the wearer as a kinsman. While that may mean nothing to you, it often does to them.

The article you quoted is about wearing the kilt rather than about wearing clan tartans. There is a critical difference.

There are many, many beautiful non-clan tartans from which to find one that suits your particular fancy or matches your eyes or your new tweed jacket or whatever. Yo also have the option of designing your own to your exact aesthetic standards.

Sorry, but "I like it" or "I think it's beautiful" is nothing more than an inadequate rationalization for flying in the face of a long-standing tradition. A tartan can be admired without being worn by the admirer. It is quite simply a matter of respect, the lack of which is unlikely to win you any friends or admirers among those whose tartan you wear. Only you can decide whether that is important or not.

(stepping down from soapbox and walking away...)

[Mike_Oettle]

MacGumerait wrote: “Those folks have the ancestoral right to wear a horned helmet with their kilt ”

You do know, don’t you, that the horned helmet was a Wagnerian invention to make his operatic costumes more dramatic.
And I’m sure you have seen the Hägar the Horrible cartoon where Hägar is caught lying and his horns pop out of his helmet!
Regards,
Mike

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Perhaps asking the correlated question about the wearing of the clan badge by non clan members is in order?