A question on ethics...

[ScotsArmiger]

I've read over some of the posts and the majority are spot on. I am a Scot (born and raised) hence a Scot and a tartan down all lines of my family. Even then I would not dream of wearing anything other than my paternal family name, except if I was ever required to wear my mother's tartan.

If I came across someone wearing my tartan who was not of my name, kin and blood, I would certainly wonder why? If he was disgracing my nation's flag and admitted to being of English decent... Ahem... Aye right son, come ahead ya sassenach...

There are other possibilities outside of family and district tartans. Consider that there are commemorative tartans eg. a Scotland 2000 Commemorative Tartan - I wouldn't wear it myself but then it is probably intended for Scots whose families have never had a tartan and for foreigners who are not Scots at all. There are also several universal tartan's such as Scottish America or even the American Bicentennial Commemorative Tartan.

There's tartans that cover almost everything and these days even the screwball Da Vinci Code Tartan which should appeal to conspiracy nuts - I personally consider that one ridiculous, since it stinks of Hollywood commercialisation.

People do strange things in Tartan though, my cousin has a tartan of his own but prefered to wear the Glasgow Rangers Football Club tartan at his wedding.

Unless you can find an ancestor in your pile who was identifable as a Scot! I would urge you instead to wear a Commemorative or Universal tartan only.