Tartan authority - what can I wear?

**Shedlock2000** · 22nd February 13, 12:05 AM

Now, I know that no-one will hunt me down for wearing some clan's tartan.

I know that 99% of people have no idea which tartan is which - there's so many!

But, I get kind of sad in the mouth when all those with historic names swell up with pride because they are a "McLeod of the clan McLeod" and this is their tartan!

My last name is Firth. Which is Gaelic for 'tributary' (comes from the same etymology as 'fjord'). There aren't many of us, as surnames go; it's a relatively recent name. It first occurred in the early 1600's and originated in the Roxburgh region of Scotland. Indeed, we didn't leave that area - any of us - until around 1750-1800's. and then only in dribs and drabs. Since then, we've spread all over the world, with a lot of Firth's now living in the New York, Boston area (a huge amount of us shipped out in that time, it seems!).

Consequently, we wear a Roxburgh Red (or not any better, hunting green) District tartan, which is a sort of peel-your-face-off ORANGE and GREEN. Which is great, if you want Chris Hadfield to spot you from the ISS; not so good if you just want to look cool.

So, on my recent search for weathered and worsted tartans, I got to wondering - if I wanted to not step on any toes, if I wanted to follow propriety to the nth degree - what would I be permitted to wear?

I feel dramatically left out! Here we are, devoted border Scots, responsible for the Ryders of the Marches, defenders of the highlanders in the glitch that was Culloden (apparently, so I read, a few of the lower Edinburgh district and border outliers did not side with the English at the battle, but fought with the highlanders), and we don't have a clan to feel enraptured by.

I served in the mob, but with REME - and they didn't have a tartan. I live in Alberta - but have you seen Alberta's tartan?!? Even the national Canadian is a bit .... Meh. I just want to find something we poor unloved can wear, AND be able to answer the question 'is this your family plaid [sic. *sigh*] then?'..... Yawn, with something that fits their expectations, rather than something accurate like "actually, I just really like the colours".

Any advice, guys n gals?

**neloon** · 22nd February 13, 01:31 AM

What about some general tartan such as Caledonia, Flower of Scotland, Scottish National ...? Maybe have a look in
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/

Alan

**Pleater** · 22nd February 13, 02:50 AM

You can't be that rare - there were Firths living only a few doors from me where I grew up in Yorkshire - not that that carries any weight statistically of course....

There is, of course, the X Marks tartan - but specifically weathered and worsted - do you mean made in wool? - the Black Watch weathered is quite attractive, and that is a 'universal' one with military connotations which might do nicely.

Are you sure that Firth means tributary? Thinking of the Firth of Forth - it is an estuary. Fjord means something similar but with cliffs rather than mudflats.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**tripleblessed** · 22nd February 13, 03:30 AM

Tweedside, Teviotdale, Border Check. Standing Council says Roxburgh and Kelso would be clan Kerr,though that's
quite bright also.

**Jock Scot** · 22nd February 13, 03:37 AM

Originally Posted by Pleater

Are you sure that Firth means tributary? Thinking of the Firth of Forth - it is an estuary. Fjord means something similar but with cliffs rather than mudflats.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Cromarty Firth, Moray Firth, Solway Firth to name another three. I have always understood firth to mean estuary too, albeit large ones.

**CDNSushi** · 22nd February 13, 03:39 AM

Greetings from another Lethbridgian (born & raised).

Each to their own. I rather like Alberta's official tartan, and the Maple Leaf, while at first I didn't like it, grew on me. Now I wear it with pride! It looks quite nice in real life -- much better than images suggest. Plus, different mills produce slightly different variations of it, giving it a different appearance altogether, depending on the supplier.

As I'm sure you're aware, there is also a City of Lethbridge tartan, but it's still in the green & gold gamut.

That's why I also like the U of A tartan (my alma mater). Other alternatives might be to design your own and have it woven - something you can do at Scotsweb.

**neloon** · 22nd February 13, 04:23 AM

Just for accuracy, "firth" is not Gaelic (it is from the root of fjord). The Gaelic for estuary would be "caol" (=narrow(s)) or, more usually, "linne" (=pool e.g.Linne Chluaidh =Firth of Clyde) or, quite often, just "loch".
Alan

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 22nd February 13, 05:39 AM

You describe your Roxburgh tartan as "eye peeling orange and green," which makes me think you are wearing it in the ancient color scheme. Have you seen House of Edgar's version of the Roxburgh tartan in their muted color scheme. Much nicer, in my opinion.

A lot of the online pictures don't do it justice, but the Roxburgh Glen Golf Club happens to have a pretty good image of it, borrowed here.

Or, for a few extra dollars you can have the tartan woven in the reproduction color scheme you were discussing on another thread. Here's a computer mock-up of what it would look like (approximately).

**McElmurry** · 22nd February 13, 08:12 AM

The House of Edgar muted colors are quite nice in person. I suggest getting a swatch from the mill so you can judge the colors yourself. Designing your own family tartan is also an option if you really don't feel an affinity for any of the readily available options.

Here is a link to some photos of a Dalgliesh version of Roxburgh.

http://swaggerkilts.blogspot.com/201...1_archive.html