Quote Originally Posted by Riverkilt View Post
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.