Advice Needed

**LANCER1562** · 6th June 13, 01:15 AM

My daughter is getting married in July and her fiance has expressed an interest in wearing a kilt even though he has no Celtic blood (he's El Salvadorean). My question is, since he's marrying my daughter, would he be allowed to wear my family's tartan?

**Phil** · 6th June 13, 02:15 AM

Originally Posted by LANCER1562

would he be allowed to wear my family's tartan?

Of course he would. There is no law prohibiting the wearing of a tartan.

**LANCER1562** · 6th June 13, 02:55 AM

I know there's no law prohibiting the wearing of a tartan unless it's a restricted tartan like Balmoral. I know that my wife and children can wear my family tartan, I just wasn't sure if my son-in-law could.

**Father Bill** · 6th June 13, 04:46 AM

I tend to be a little bit of an iconoclast on this, but it might be a nice time to welcome him into the clan. The best understanding I have is that the clan system was designed to recruit warriors, so if you marry into the clan, you're a member. Tartan at the wedding could in a way symbolize an "initiation" into the clan.

I now stand back and wait for the rocks to be thrown.

**JohntheBiker** · 6th June 13, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

I tend to be a little bit of an iconoclast on this, but it might be a nice time to welcome him into the clan. The best understanding I have is that the clan system was designed to recruit warriors, so if you marry into the clan, you're a member. Tartan at the wedding could in a way symbolize an "initiation" into the clan.

I now stand back and wait for the rocks to be thrown.

No rocks. It seems as good a rationale as any for choosing a tartan and a good way to embrace a new family member.

**davidlpope** · 6th June 13, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by LANCER1562

I know there's no law prohibiting the wearing of a tartan unless it's a restricted tartan like Balmoral. I know that my wife and children can wear my family tartan, I just wasn't sure if my son-in-law could.

It seems to me that you're overthinking this. If you believe that one of the results of this marriage is that your future son-in-law becomes part of your family, and if he doesn't already have a tartan "of his own", then it makes sense for him to wear the tartan that the rest of your family does.

If you are concerned, though, about the propriety of it, then the correct person to inquire with is your clan chief. He or she (IMO) is the sole arbiter of who may wear their tartan, if they are inclined to exercise that right. I suspect that most chiefs, though, are busy with more pressing things.

**sailortats** · 6th June 13, 06:00 AM

I would say that is a great way to welcome him into the family. BTW, will you be at one of the tastings on the 8th or 14th?

**tulloch** · 6th June 13, 06:05 AM

My feeling is that it would be a really nice homage to your family.

**Pipersson** · 6th June 13, 06:11 AM

MacKinnon writes about this very clearly in his marvellous book. Your future son-in-law would have to join your clan to have the right to wear your tartan. BUT....as we know there is no tartan police and if he desires to wear your family tartan I would consider this as a sign he wishes to be really close with his future family...
So lets get kilted!

Tom

**Tobus** · 6th June 13, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by Pipersson

MacKinnon writes about this very clearly in his marvellous book. Your future son-in-law would have to join your clan to have the right to wear your tartan.

In this modern day and age, what exactly does it mean to "join a clan"? Are you talking about joining a clan society? That's not really the same thing. And the clans themselves don't really have membership rolls. So if one were to attempt to honour the sentiment, how exactly would this El Salvadoran fellow join the clan? I am coming up with a blank as to what that really means.