Wearing a tartan if not Celtic heritage

[JRB]

...the wearing of more than one tartan,without good reason, will be noted...

Not to stray too far off topic, but does the above statement apply to the wearing of more than one tartan from the same clan (i.e. hunting XXXX, dress XXXX, ancient XXXX, etc.) or just to wearing the tartan of more than one clan.

[Jock Scot]

Not to stray too far off topic, but does the above statement apply to the wearing of more than one tartan from the same clan (i.e. hunting XXXX, dress XXXX, ancient XXXX, etc.) or just to wearing the tartan of more than one clan.

Good question! So very few kilt wearing Scots have more than one kilt,so yes I suppose it would be noted if you wear more than one tartan of the same clan. I suspect the thought would be something along the lines of;"....damn fool must have more money than sense......". The wearing of tartans of different clans, without good reason (pipe band for example), would receive far more robust thoughts! Although, wearing a dress tartan of your clan,if it has one, at the appropriate time would not raise an eyebrow. |The words like " money" and "sense" may still occur to the local onlooker though!

I am considering getting a new kilt made! If I do, I think I would have the "weathered" version of my tartan, I will let you know what the locals thoughts are in due course! At a guess it will be something like;"..... best humour the old boy(silly old duffer)......has not a clue what he is doing........never been the same since........fancy trying to get all modern at his age........". I fancy I will not be too far out!

[Bugbear]

Right Tony. First of all I believe there is far too much reticence on your side of the pond about upsetting people by wearing their tartan. This is an inhibition that you must get under control before going to a good website such as the Scottish Tartans Authority and trolling through there until you find a few tartans you really like. Then you make a final decision and provided it is not one of the very few restricted tartans, go along to a good kiltmaker and have a kilt made in that tartan. Wear it with pride and know which tartan it is if anyone asks you, you could even throw in that it was your granny's tartan if you feel you must.

Um... There are quite a few... non-clan tartans there at the Scottish Tartans Authority. Many that represent things like areas and groups.

[Phil]

Can I tell a little story here? It is a true story although I have changed it slightly. Once upon a time there was a lodge belonging to an elderly lady and each year a select and favoured group of acquaintances were invited to join her there and enjoy her hospitality. When the old lady eventually departed this life her family had no objections, whatsoever, about others enjoying the facility. The acquaintances and other “hangers-on” were deeply upset and raised objections, however, that any outsider should ever be able to make use of what was once their exclusive domain.
What this analogy is trying to highlight is the “dog in a manger” attitude some seem to have about tartans as theirs and theirs alone. The entrenched prejudice about anyone not “entitled” having the temerity to wear a jealously guarded tartan and, by so doing, somehow infringing their exclusive right to it. How often we see this and it must be a deep-seated trait in human personality to want to retain as an exclusive possession something even so trivial as a piece of cloth made in a particular pattern, for that is all it is, no more and no less.

[Rex_Tremende]

What this analogy is trying to highlight is the “dog in a manger” attitude some seem to have about tartans as theirs and theirs alone. The entrenched prejudice about anyone not “entitled” having the temerity to wear a jealously guarded tartan and, by so doing, somehow infringing their exclusive right to it. How often we see this and it must be a deep-seated trait in human personality to want to retain as an exclusive possession something even so trivial as a piece of cloth made in a particular pattern, for that is all it is, no more and no less.

I think this is a most astute observation, Phil. To think about it, I would bet we've all seen this play out in various ways throughout our lives.

A long time ago in a workshop I attended, the facilitator asked a group to stand in a circle facing each other. One individual was left to stand outside of the circle, and was given the instruction to try and get into the circle, too. Well, there was much pushing back and closing of ranks, and the outsider could not get in. The thing was that at no point did the facilitator instruct the circle of participants to keep the outsider out. They did it instinctively. I rather think that this exercise forever altered my thinking about in-groups and clubs, being open to people crossing imaginary boundaries, and my relationships with "others."

Regards,
Rex.

[Nighthawk]

Don't forget PA!
We do have one of the better state tartans (although I may be a bit biased about that )

Yes, it's nice- but Colorado's is better.

Your comment makes me wonder. Has anyone here ever encountered a Scot (or anyone else, for that matter) who was genuinly offended or upset at the sight of someone wearing a specific clan tartan who was not "entitled" to wear it? Other than the restricted tartans you mentioned I've never seen or heard of such an incident myself.

Anyways... I personally am of MacLeod ancestry. Do I get upset when I see someone else wearing a MacLeod tartan? No! I am as a matter of fact flattered that others may like any one of our 30 some tartans enough to spend the money on a kilt made from one! Now I'm not a native born Scot, but I have heard this same sentiment echoed by numerous people who are Scots, and not Coloradoans with Scots blood. So for what it's worth... And this goes along with what Jock has been saying as well.

I would second the idea of an Isle of Skye kilt it really is a beautiful tartan here are a few photos.







As for the question about wearing either your mothers or fathers tartan it is my experience that you can wear either one.

Darn you, Murdo!! As if I don't already want one of those badly enough... When I bought my latest kilt, I only had money for on- IoS, my clan tartan, or my state. I chose my state... and I want one of those IoS's so bad...

***whine over***

[muirkirkca]

The expats from Scotland that I know don't seem to get too involved with the clan/tartan relationship. They have been exposed to widespread multiculturalism in the Toronto area and any participation in Scottish activities regardless of the persons background is appreciated. This includes wearing of the kilt.

[lasrl]

I'd look into your family tree more carefully, as there may be a tartan to which you have a claim to wear. Also, I wouldn't limit myself to Scottish ancestory: you may have Irish or Welsh Ancestry as well.

If that fails, then I would go for a Universal Tartans that you find makes the most sense. Remember, there are also no tartan police to worry about.....but you wouldn't want to offend your forefathers if you descend from a kilted family line.

[David H]

I will just echo what some of the others are saying about this topic, if you don't have a strong family connection maybe you have an organizational tie to one. I had to go back to my GG Grandmother to find a known Scottish connection, McKinney. If you have been in the military, there is a tartan for each branch. Your job may have thier own tartan, for example Police and Firefighters. And as someone else mentioned, a lot of States have a tartan at this time.
So, you have more options than you really think. Have fun trying to find one. I have spent hours and hours looking over the different sites. I know which one will be my next one and it will most likely be the last one I purchase. However, I will explain why I choose that one in due time.

[Bugbear]

I just get the subtle impression that the tartans, other than the long established clan tartans, are... not well recieved by some in the Highlands. I'm not sure Phil's story is getting at that, almost seems the oppisit, but I do feel outside the circle from time to time.