Question for traditionalists

[lethearen]

This question is focused on our Scottish brethren who might adhere to more traditional views than many of the Americans in our lot. Particulary, I wanted to ask Jock Scot, because a post I read a while back. It's certainly not meant as a challenge to your stance, but just out of curiosity.

Jock Scot mentioned (and I paraphrase) that traditionally, one would wear a tartan that he has connection with, and only one. Thus, a man might wear a kilt honouring his maternal grandfather, or (more traditionally) his own father... but not both. And certainly he wouldn't wear a kilt that was in another family's plaid to which he had no relation. Walking around the highlands wearing different plaids one day to the next would peg you as a poser, even if you had "claim" to all of them.

So, my question is simply this. How many kilts do you own and wear, and in which tartans? I'm assuming the number is probably greater than one... and if so, how do you reconcile that with the stance of only wearing a single tartan - are all your kilts identical, or possibly the same family but using different colourways? Ok so that wasn't a single question

I have a kilt in Ferguson (my mother's) modern. There are a few other clan or universal tartans I really like and want to get... but I always come back to wanting a Ferguson ancient more. Part of me wants different tartans because I like them and like to have variety... but always back to Ferguson...

Hrm, maybe the question actually has less to do with just curiosity as with helping me come to terms with my own decision In any case, I look forward to enjoying your thoughts on the topic

[Jock Scot]

I have three kilts all of the same tartan. Sadly I can only wear one ,the others have "shrunk". My Grandfather's and my father's kilts are in the "modern" hue and the one I wear,made in 1995, is of "ancient" hue.I may,one day, have another kilt made and it will be of the same tartan again, I will wear no other although I suppose I could, but I have to confess that I am leaning towards the "weathered" colours. Time will tell.

[Riverkilt]

Hope I'm being helpful here, not out of line. Know you asked Jock, and other Scots on the board, but read that you were also seeking how other's thought.

Ignore this if I misread.

I have five kilts in variations of Macdonald tartans. Two are the same, a USA Kilts semi- trad and a SportKilt in the generic Macdonald tartan.

I have 8 kilts in ancestral clan tartans, 4 Gordon variations, Scott, Gunn, Cameron, and Fraser.

I have Army, Navy, Leatherneck, Royal Air Force, and Firefighter Memorial tartan kilts to honor family service.

I have Caledonia and Isle of Skye district tartans.

I have a saffron and an Ireland's National tartan to represent the four Irish branches of my heritage.

I have two "cause" tartans - Antarctica and Warrior (purple for Domestic Violence prevention).

All my tartans have personal meaning for me.

Ron

[Snowbear]

The way I find the tartan to wear is by going the straight line of my father till the first tartan comes up. That would be your right one.

As for other tartans to wear I would not show myself outside with another clan tartan. The only compromise I could do is to wear a district/pipeband tartan. I'm not too eager about district tartan, but will get myself a kilt in my pipeband tartan when I'm good enough to play with them on gigs.

[kilty]

The way I find the tartan to wear is by going the straight line of my father till the first tartan comes up. That would be your right one.

That would be difficult for most of us. My father is of French lineage - no tartans there.

My mother's father was Irish (Sullivan) and her mother was Scot (MacKay). I chose the MacKay tartan to wear: a direct blood link with the MacKay clan and a way to honour my grandmother who was like a mother to me.

[Nighthawk]

Hope I'm being helpful here, not out of line. Know you asked Jock, and other Scots on the board, but read that you were also seeking how other's thought.

Ignore this if I misread.

I have five kilts in variations of Macdonald tartans. Two are the same, a USA Kilts semi- trad and a SportKilt in the generic Macdonald tartan.

I have 8 kilts in ancestral clan tartans, 4 Gordon variations, Scott, Gunn, Cameron, and Fraser.

I have Army, Navy, Leatherneck, Royal Air Force, and Firefighter Memorial tartan kilts to honor family service.

I have Caledonia and Isle of Skye district tartans.

I have a saffron and an Ireland's National tartan to represent the four Irish branches of my heritage.

I have two "cause" tartans - Antarctica and Warrior (purple for Domestic Violence prevention).

All my tartans have personal meaning for me.

Ron

Those are some great reasons! I was personally never concerned about the labels others put on me. I know what I am, and as the song says, if you don't like me, then leave me alone. I have similar tartans for similar reasons. Wolfe and saffron for the Irish side, Colorado tartan because I love my home (and it would take an act of the gods to get me to leave my own highlands!), Clergy to wear when I officiate weddings, Albannach because I'm a huge fan of the band (I know- it's frivolous. I ain't perfect!) and really, that's it for tartan kilts! I haven't gotten a MacLeod yet, though that it next on my list- it's from my grandmother on my fathers side. So it seems to me that unless that you're a Highlander living in Scotland, there are lots of very good reasons to wear different tartans. That thing to remember is that we as descendants of Scottish ancestors have an obligation to be respectful of the tradition, but are not bound by them.

[Jock Scot]

Those are some great reasons! I was personally never concerned about the labels others put on me. I know what I am, and as the song says, if you don't like me, then leave me alone. I have similar tartans for similar reasons. Wolfe and saffron for the Irish side, Colorado tartan because I love my home (and it would take an act of the gods to get me to leave my own highlands!), Clergy to wear when I officiate weddings, Albannach because I'm a huge fan of the band (I know- it's frivolous. I ain't perfect!) and really, that's it for tartan kilts! I haven't gotten a MacLeod yet, though that it next on my list- it's from my grandmother on my fathers side. So it seems to me that unless that you're a Highlander living in Scotland, there are lots of very good reasons to wear different tartans. That thing to remember is that we as descendants of Scottish ancestors have an obligation to be respectful of the tradition, but are not bound by them.

I say this with the greatest of respect and I hope you try to understand when I take issue with your last sentence. There are many Scots who feel that you(not you personally, necessarally!) are falling short of that "obligation to be respectful" you talk about, by wearing different clan tartans. I quite understand that you feel that you should not be bound by those obligations, and from your point of view, that's fair enough. Just don't expect some Scots to view it that way.

[Nighthawk]

I say this with the greatest of respect and I hope you try to understand when I take issue with your last sentence. There are many Scots who feel that you are falling short of that "obligation to be respecful" you talk about, by wearing different clan tartans. I quite understand that you feel that you should not be bound by those obligations, and from your point of view, that's fair enough. Just don't expect some Scots to view it that way.

Jock, my friend, I realize that very well. That's exactly why I won't wear any family or clan tartan that I don't have blood ties to. The only Scottish clan /family tartan I will wear is MacLeod. I'll wear my state tartan, I'll wear my Irish family tartan- but only one clan tartan. I realize that more than a few people will take issue with me on this- but tough. Not to put too fine a point on it...

[heilanner]

I say this with the greatest of respect and I hope you try to understand when I take issue with your last sentence. There are many Scots who feel that you are falling short of that "obligation to be respecful" you talk about, by wearing different clan tartans. I quite understand that you feel that you should not be bound by those obligations, and from your point of view, that's fair enough. Just don't expect some Scots to view it that way.

as a Scot i feel obliged to chip in here. 99% of Scots don't own a kilt. they hire them as and when they are needed - mostly for weddings, Burns suppers and for hogmany. kilt hire shops seldom stock more than 4 or 5 tartans, so people wear whatever happens to be available at the time.

if someone does ask about the kilt, the conversation goes along these lines; "That's a nice kilt, which tartan is it?", "Oh, thanks. I think it's a Baird", "Is it your own?", "No no, just rented", "Well you look very smart in it".

next to nobody in Scotland cares which tartan people wear because next to nobody in Scotland will ever own a kilt.

[lethearen]

I have three kilts all of the same tartan. Sadly I can only wear one ,the others have "shrunk". My Grandfather's and my father's kilts are in the "modern" hue and the one I wear,made in 1995, is of "ancient" hue.I may,one day, have another kilt made and it will be of the same tartan again, I will wear no other although I suppose I could, but I have to confess that I am leaning towards the "weathered" colours. Time will tell.

Thanks, Jock Scot And everyone else! I know that what tartan you wear is a very personal choice, and I appreciate that everyone shared their views. Very glad that people read my question as being open to all to chime in.

I was maybe a little intimidated by the members whose kilts numbered in the double digits, some getting awfully close to triple. I'm sure that those with a really significant collection have several plaids in their closets. I don't know that I own as many pieces of clothing as Hamish owns kilts! And the thought of whether or not one kilt is really enough kinda thing came to mind. When I wear a kilt, do I always want it to be the same? Or more variety?

At first, I really wanted kilts in a few different tartans. But the more I wear my two different ones, the more I keep leaning towards really only wanting the one in my family's and deciding I can just get an ancient for more variety.