Wearing another clans Tartan?

[Nathan]

Nathan you leave me wondering if you'd think diffrent if someone wears your tartan but not the Chief's badge?

I still think it's poor etiquette but since the Pakistanis started making stiff acrylic kilts in MacDonald tartan and selling them for 60 - 80 bucks on ebay, I'll probably have to get used to seeing this a lot more often. *grumble*

[Singlemalt]

As I have stated before one of the things "I don't get" is why with all the Universal and Regional tartans easily available that someone would still wear another family's tartan. I have kilts in what is now regarded as the tartan associated with my surname. I wear them with pride although I know that this tartan is relatively recent invention. Still it was designed to signify a surname and a family and I think people should respect that.

I also have a couple of Black Watch (Government) kilts. Now this tartan I know was worn by many members of my family in the last century and the one before that in both the British and Canadian military. I would say I wear them with equal pride.

With all the tartans available today I don't care who you are there are many out there that you have every right to wear and probably one with some connection to who you are, where you are from, what work you do or what you believe. I would urge you to seek out that connection and find "your" tartan. You will enjoy it that much more and without the small lingering worry you might be offending someone.

[seasaidhlinne]

3) You're often honouring the history of your regiment. The Frazier Highlanders for example were originally raised on behalf of the crown by Lord Lovat. Many of the fighting men in the regiment were Fraziers, others were their neighbours or in-laws. A similar story holds true for the Cameron Highlanders. People who join the Fraziers are actually joining "the Fraziers" in a symbolic sense.

Ahhh But I am not tied to the Lovat Frasers just to complicate my life a little more. I do not bear the motto "Je Suis Prest" but instead "All my faith is in god" We are all from one area Invernessshire, but have had a lot of trouble getting beyond my great great grandfather due to no record of his parents but I can wager a guess his father was also likely Alexander Fraser. Patterson I haven't started on, because the first go around was exhausting tracking down what I could.

I think for me if it were a formal occasion or an official occasion I'd be kind of bothered by the idea but again I guess it isn't that huge of a deal from what I'm reading

[Jock Scot]

To some it is a BIG deal, make no mistake. Have a look at my old threads and find "Food For Thought" and "F4T2" . Ok a Scots view and possibly not a majority point of view, but a point of view none the less.

[Nathan]

Too some it is a BIG deal, make no mistake. Have a look at my old threads and find "Food For Thought" and "F4T2" . Ok a Scots view and possibly not a majority point of view, but a point of view none the less.

***

In my view, the Canadian (in particular the Nova Scotian) view corresponds to Jock's...

Ahhh But I am not tied to the Lovat Frasers ...

Interesting, but I was only using the 78th Fraser Highlanders as an example of a soldier wearing a clan tartan that isn't his Chief's. It's just a coincidence that you're a (non Lovat) Fraser...

[MacLowlife]

Jock, I always appreciate your wisdom.

However, I think people get into trouble when they apply a rule developed for one circumstance ( one kilt, maybe two) to an entirely different mindset ( a closet full of them). Surely, if I want a single kilt and I have a real connection to one clan, I ought to wear that clan's tartan. But if I want ten kilts, I really ought to give up on ten yearning, burning strong associations. It's a little like the distinction between serial monogamy and promiscuity, isn't it?

[Jock Scot]

I think that I have said on more than one occassion that; " the choice is entirely down to the indiviual". However I can give you my Scots slant on the situation, what others choose to do is completely out of my hands!

[Wil]

Awww yes, once again the monster raise's it's head.....

I once asked this same question due to the fact that I found a nice kilt in a thrift shop in my size. I left it in the shop do to this blog as well as speaking with some family in Aderdeen.
We wear a tartan as a sign of family loyality, trust and heritage. It is with great pride that we uphold our traditions and it is with great pride that we wear our tradition. With that being said, I am not in favor of lending you my family tartan for the day nor am I in favor of you not wearing your family tartan for the day. If you want a little change wear one of the open tartans (or for lack of better words)....generic tartans. Someone once explanded it as such..... "Once you put on a tartan that isn't yours you then start a "new tradition" and now you bring yet another tartan into the clan/family, why?"
Of course this is all up to you and not me, but if you wear another familys tartan you will need to know about the family that you are wearing. When one of those family members come up to you and ask if this is your family and you have to tell him/her "NO, I just like the colors"....... Well enough said about that.
I would just be careful, be proud of your family and your tartan and like I said if you want a change just wear one of the "open ones". No need to reinvent the whee.......

[Carlo]

All in all some are just happy to see their tartan worn and others would like to send non family wearing their tartan to the moon.
Same question diffrent direction.
I always hear there are enough district tartan but considering that district tartan, at least as a concept, are older than clan tartan how could I wear a tartan from a district I have no connection to?

[Nathan]

All in all some are just happy to see their tartan worn and others would like to send non family wearing their tartan to the moon.
Same question diffrent direction.
I always hear there are enough district tartan but considering that district tartan, at least as a concept, are older than clan tartan how could I wear a tartan from a district I have no connection to?

Almost everyone has some kind of district tartan. You could wear the Swiss National tartan. My basic point is just because something is on sale doesn't mean you should wear it. 01swissNational.jpg