Glengarry cap ribbons

[Drac]

Evening all,

I just picked up a glengarry cap at the festival today and went looking for how to tie the ribbons. Is there a thread on this or can any one explain how the ribbons are tied?

Also what are the normal protocols when wearing it? I've seen it from plain to decorated so much it was amazing the person could hold their head up.

Thx,
Jim

[ForresterModern]

Typically the ribbons of a Glengarry bonnet are NOT tied, rather let hang loose over the neck and upper back. contrast that with the Balmoral, which many/most would say SHOULD have the ribbons tied in a tight bow, although there is much variation in this regard. Glens are typically worn straight on the head or slightly tilted to the right, and usually have a cap badge (typically your clan badge) centered on the rosette on the front left side. Balmorals are also usually tilted to the right or even frankly pulled down to the right like a military beret. Cap badge also typically worn on the grosgrain rosette. You may add some flair with a sprig of your clan plant (check your clan website for this, or other resources as you can find them) tucked in behind your cap badge. You can also wear a small square of your kilt tartan behind the badge as well, although this is less commonly done. Generally steer clear of feathers in your bonnet as they can actually have some significance in clan leadership that you do not wish to violate. Some pipers and bandsmen, along with some military units, may wear a colored hackle behind the cap badge, but I would also steer clear of those until you know more about what you are doing and make sure you are not imitating some particular unit you do not have the relationship to to allow you to wear it. Bonnets are typically worn only outdoors. Dicing on your bonnet may or may not have significance, again depending on whose stories you believe, as may the actual color of your bonnet. Luckily Glengarries pretty much only come in two standard colors, black and Navy blue, although I am sure you could find them somewhere in other colors if you searched hard enough. They can also be found in clan tartans, but at least according to the scots I have met here on the forum, this is a faux pas typically made only by tourists, and an occasional pipe band as a uniform piece. Balmorals are available in a veritable rainbow of colors both bright and subdued.

Look through the photo sections of this forum for pic of folks wearing various bonnets--glens, Balmorals, and tams among some others less commonly associated with the Highland attire.

Enjoy your bonnet.

jeff

[Drac]

Thanks.

I found this site for Clan plants -

http://www.scottish-wedding-dreams.com/clan-plants.html

And this site for more than just black and blue glengarry caps -

http://www.glengarryhats.com/glengarryhats.php

Jim

[BoldHighlander]

Thanks.

I found this site for Clan plants -

http://www.scottish-wedding-dreams.com/clan-plants.html

Was checking this link out for Clan Donald. Once again they list common heath, but I think this can be confusing as when you look up common heath it usually shows an Australian variety. When checking Clan Donald own sources (internet etc) I come up with heather, generally the common purplish-pink heather, though the Keppoch Macdonalds show white heather. Just thought I'd mention it

[gordontaos]

For the MacDuff Clan I have seen at least 5 different plants listed, Ligonberry, Red Whortleberry, holly, oak, boxwood.
Does anyone have any idea how this works? I am very confused.

[DougC]

good to see the various Campbells are inline with each other--bog myrtle.

[Livingston]

and I see that they don't have MacLea (Livingstone) on the list. Ours is the Flower of the Grass of Parnassus.