Quote Originally Posted by gilmore View Post
I voted for none of the tartans, not because they aren't nice to look at, or at least some may find them that way.

Gorgeousness is in the eye of the beholder. For me tartans are about what they represent. If they represent nothing, they have no appeal. And if they represent something, they are appealing, no matter what they look like.
I must disagree.
Here's why-> MOST of the ones listed HAVE symbolism.

Caledonia -One of the OLDEST tartans and pretty popular in the 1700s (pre-clan tartan associations) and one of the "general" tartans that means "Scotland." The name is from the LATIN name for the area, derived from the old Caledon tribe encountered by the Romans.

MacPherson Red -Clan tartan, so HAS CLAN meaning

Sackett- Personal Tartan designed BY an X Marks member FOR an X Marks member

Maple Leaf -"District tartan" for Canada, so IMMENSE meaning, if you are Canadian.

Isle of Skye -DISTRICT tartan for the island of that name

Antarctic -a fashion tartan based upon the colors of Antarctica. May or may not have ties to the continent, dependant upon its origins. Possibly, it IS a "fashion tartan." MAYBE, an actual "district tartan," if adopted by the researchers down there. On that, I MUST plead ignorance.

Holyrood -Probably the most "fashion" oriented of the batch, as there is NO real connection (that I know of) between the tartan and the Scottish ROYAL PALACE in Edinburgh.

Regardless, the POLL is asking for AESTHETICS opinion of the tartans in question. I happen to REALLY like Caledonia, with the symbolism being helpful, and Isle of Skye (which I NEVER heard of or saw before here). I HAVE a kilt in Caledonia and Isle of Skye is on my "possible future kilt" list.