"Garish" Tartans

[Jock Scot]

For sure we cannot choose the family we were born to.

But does that mean we have to accept as genuine, and wear, a tartan which was designed as part of an elaborate 19th century hoax, just because it was dubbed with the same name as the family we were born to?

If the only tartan available that had the same name attached to it as my last name was one of the hideous Hay-Allan creations I would wear something else. There are too many authentic old tartans still in production, and too many lovely new tartans, to make it worthwhile to keep wearing the bogus ugly ones, whatever name the Hay-Allans, at random, christened them with.

That is of course your point of view. I think that it may be unwise to voice those opinions, correct though the facts maybe, in those terms in Scotland. As I have already said it is wise to keep your opinions to yourself as it will cause less offence that way. And mark my words, offence would be taken in certain quarters.