Probably Been Asked

**SnakeEyes** · 28th January 07, 07:27 AM

This has probably been asked, more than once most likely, but here goes...

Whats the general consensus on wearing the "wrong" tartan?

I suppose my real question is... Am I going to get stripped naked an made to walk home in shame on Tartan Day if I can't prove I'm related to the MacLeods?

**Dreadbelly** · 28th January 07, 07:28 AM

Wear whatever ye like laddie. Just know what it is, and have some respect for it.

**McMurdo** · 28th January 07, 07:31 AM

there is no such thing as the wrong tartan, you will not be taken out and flogged, drawn and quartered or any such nonsense, I do like to have some connection to a particular tartan but that is no means needed.

**ccga3359** · 28th January 07, 08:13 AM

The only wrong tartan is when you mix different tartans. As a Mcleod check these guys out http://www.huntingmcleod.com. They're a local band that are quite popular in the eastern seaboard scottish festival in the States. Don't think any of them are actually a McLeod, althought the piper is a Buchanan. Wear your tartan with respect and pride. This is the advice that you're going to hear on this forum.

**Tattoo Bradley** · 28th January 07, 11:15 AM

Yep, you're going to hear it over and over. Wear what you like.

**gilmore** · 28th January 07, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Tattoobradley

Yep, you're going to hear it over and over. Wear what you like.

You will hear it because those who disagree and are of the opinion that one should wear a tartan one has some association with are usually too well-mannered to say anything about it. You just may not be invited to their dinners, blissfully unaware that you have committed a faux pas in the eyes of some.

**Riverkilt** · 28th January 07, 11:58 AM

Most clans have societies around the world. If it makes you feel better you can check the clan website of the tartan you'd like to wear. If it doesn't say all are welcome who support the clan you can email them for an official oakie doakie.

I wore my first hand sewn kilt to the Mesa, AZ Highland games. It was Macdonald of the Isles Hunting. Certainly a tartan I felt I had a right to since my kin are from Skye. Yet some self-appointed kilt policeman at the Clan Donald tent chose to berate me for wearing the tartan, saying ONLY Prince Charles was entitled to wear it.

I challenged him saying if that were so why were so many mills weaving the tartan and why were so many kiltmakers happy to sew it up, and why were there so many tams, neckties, et.al. in that tartan. Being an idiot he stuck to his guns. He was in no way polite about it.

When I returned home I emailed Clan Donald about the incident and got multiple unsolicited responses, in addition to the official response, that he was dead wrong and they were very sorry I'd been treated this way by someone in the clan tent.

The following year I went back to the Mesa games gunning for this guy. I was armed to the teeth with the emails, bound to show him the error of his ways. When I got to the clan tent there was only a sweet looking elderly lady there. I asked after him and this sweet lady broke into some very colorful descriptions of what an undesireable person he was and that they had kicked him out, asked him not to come anymore, etc. Then she apologized.

So, point is - its unlikely you'll be hassled...but if for some reason you were the person doing it will probably be socially inept and wrong.

And, if you wanna feel even better, research the clan for a member you can say you admire so if you were to disclose you were not a member of the clan you can say you wear the tartan in support of the clan and in honor of this famous person.

That said, I am lucky to know my ancestry and most of my tartan kilts are of a clan I am descended from. That's my choice. I do own clan tartan kilts of clans I'm not descended from. I've chosen them for their fine looks to wear to work. If someone asked me why I was wearing their tartan if I'm not related I'd just say its a beautiful tartan (Someday....I'm gonna buy me a Loud McLeod).

Tartans aren't like gang colors....are they??

Ron