Re-enactment / historical question

[Tetley]

I never said that Highland Scots went from wearing English-style clothing to wearing the feilidh-mor. What I said was that in the period you are looking at (14th and 15th centuries), Lowland (English speaking) scots would have dressed like their English contemporaries, while Highland (Gaelic speaking) Scots would have dressed like their Irish contemporaries, which is where we find the leine and brat. It is this fashion that would later give rise to the feilidh-mor, and the first evidence we have of that is in 1594.

Sorry, I changed the subject slightly without telling anyone


Mark

[Tetley]

You haven't really posted that many details about the group that you would be reenacting with, so maybe there is something I'm not seeing. But it seems to me that if one of the members has invited you to participate and you don't want or are not able to invest in the proper clothing, they should not be offended if you ask if there might be anything they could loan you for the occasion. I know a lot of reenactment groups keep a loaner stock on hand for folks coming out the first time.

That is because I am not entirely sure which one it will be. However, from discussions with re-enacters both recently and from way back I am reluctant to bring up a subject that has been slightly contentious.

I do not think that any of the groups that I am likely to be visiting would have "loaner" kit, again judging from past conversations and I think for now that I will just go along in my everyday attire and see what is going on. Then I can judge what my next move will be.

Admittedly, the whole re-enactment scene is a bit of a mystery to me.

Mark

[macwilkin]

That is because I am not entirely sure which one it will be. However, from discussions with re-enacters both recently and from way back I am reluctant to bring up a subject that has been slightly contentious.

I do not think that any of the groups that I am likely to be visiting would have "loaner" kit, again judging from past conversations and I think for now that I will just go along in my everyday attire and see what is going on. Then I can judge what my next move will be.

Admittedly, the whole re-enactment scene is a bit of a mystery to me.

Mark

Generally, loaner "kit" belongs to individuals -- an extra pair shoes, trousers, etc. Most reenactors have a closet full of gear, and generally keep some for the very purpose to loan out to "fresh fish".

T.

T.

[LANCER1562]

Tetley,

I am a member of a living history re-enactment guild, as noted in my signature. We recreate the court of Mary Stewart circa 1562 and are fairly relaxed as far as being historically acurate. For example: alot of the men in our guild who portray soldiers of the Queen"s military wear great kilts (usually solid black, which was hard to come by in the 15th and 16th centuries), our Guild Master refers to himself as the Queen's brother, James Stewart, Prince of Scotland (James Stewart, the Earl of Moray was her ilegitamate half-brother and would have had no claim to the throne), the woman who portrays Mary is 46 years old (historically speaking, at this age, Mary has been dead for at least two years).

On the other hand, we play whith guilds that are part of SCA and they are rabidly historically acurate. ie: Only the Queen wore purple, the kilt wasn't worn until MUCH later, etc. As has been suggested, go and have fun.

Robert

[Woodsheal]

Talk to these fine folks:

http://www.fireandsword.org/home%20page.html

[sirdaniel1975]

Fashion changes over time for all kinds of reasons. Many things contribute to the reasons for people whom wear what it is what they wear...

From W.H Murray's "Rob Roy MacGregor" Chap 3 The Barefoot Years 1673-1684 page 31:

Section on Spring

"The Springs came late, for Scotland was suffering an oscillation of climate that had brought the greatest cold since the Ice Age. It reached the worst between 1550 and 1700 with a vast expansion of Arctic pack ice. The sea-temperatures off Scotland in Winter slumped to 3°C (5° below present).

copyright is from 1982

Not saying this is the reason for the belted plaid, but I'm sure it is a major contribution to the use.

[PGH]

I am a member of a living history re-enactment guild, as noted in my signature. We recreate the court of Mary Stewart circa 1562 and are fairly relaxed as far as being historically acurate. For example: alot of the men in our guild who portray soldiers of the Queen"s military wear great kilts (usually solid black, which was hard to come by in the 15th and 16th centuries), our Guild Master refers to himself as the Queen's brother, James Stewart, Prince of Scotland (James Stewart, the Earl of Moray was her ilegitamate half-brother and would have had no claim to the throne), the woman who portrays Mary is 46 years old (historically speaking, at this age, Mary has been dead for at least two years).

I don't mean to be contentious here, I'm finding this thread quite interesting, but isn't it a contradiction to say you are a "living history re-enactment guild" and then state you don't care too much about accuracy?

Do you tell your audience which bits are fibs so they don't go off thinking the inaccurate bits are, well, accurate? Isn't the purpose of these groups to dispel the myths and inaccuracies that have made their way into popular culture?

[Malcolm MacWilliam]

Mark (Tetley).....I have skimmed through these posts and I see that Woodsheal chimed in (friend of mine who does Jacobite with me), so I'm not sure of all you want. But, if you want to see a Jacobite reenactment here in U.S., visit us at Oswego, NY, Fort Ontario, Labor Day weekend. http://jacobite1745.homestead.com/Culloden2006.html has a lot of photos of our past several years doing Jacobite, although from what I read, you are thinking of doing earlier. AND, our main impressions are 42nd and 77th Highland Regiments for French and Indian War and Rev. War. However, if you want to learn more about reenacting, post a message to me personally or come visit at Oswego. Malcolm

[Tetley]

Mark (Tetley).....I have skimmed through these posts and I see that Woodsheal chimed in (friend of mine who does Jacobite with me), so I'm not sure of all you want. But, if you want to see a Jacobite reenactment here in U.S., visit us at Oswego, NY, Fort Ontario, Labor Day weekend. http://jacobite1745.homestead.com/Culloden2006.html has a lot of photos of our past several years doing Jacobite, although from what I read, you are thinking of doing earlier. AND, our main impressions are 42nd and 77th Highland Regiments for French and Indian War and Rev. War. However, if you want to learn more about reenacting, post a message to me personally or come visit at Oswego. Malcolm

Thanks for the invite, if I am ever in America I will take you up on it.

Mark