A few thoughts on choice and selection: tartan, clans, etc.

[David Thorpe]

IMHO, this can be a case of cart before the horse. The kilt and tartan are an integral part of clan and family tradition, however recent and mythical its origins may be. While I like the aesthetics of many tartans, clan and otherwise, I wear those of my clan with pride. It isn't a fashion statement, but rather a recognition of who I am, who my family are and from whence we came.
Again IMHO, those who have a clan connection but choose a tartan not their own for aesthetic reasons miss the point entirely.
I fully understand that others' opinions differ and respect their freedom to feel differently.

[MacLowlife]

To some degree, our tastes are influenced by familiarity. If the McOnions expose their child to the clan tartan early and often, he may like it despite his other aesthetic ideas. Of course, he may fancy himself rebellious and not like it at all. Colors do go in and out of fashion, though trees and animals seldom change their colors accordingly. The leopard cannot choose another tartan. Jeremiah 13:23

[Calgacus]

I would be very interested to hear the opinions and views of Native Scots regarding the aesthetics of family tartans. For example, if Mr MacOnion isn't fond of the MacOnion tartan then what's he to do? Wear Blackwatch or some other universal sett?

I always felt a tiny, ennsy, weensy bit left out until I was able to get a kilt in a tartan to which I have a direct familial connection (which I should receive it the day after my B-Day. Very good news! )

Hi Bren,

I'm a native Scot with that sort of dilemma. I got my first adult kilt when I was in my late teens. Due to cost, I was restricted to ex-hire and got a Mackenzie kilt, a black barathea Braemar, a lovat green tweed Braemar, and all the accessories for £200. I still wear the tweed Braemar, it is of very high quality and despite being "ex-hire" it had never been hired out and was new when I got it. I still wear the kilt too, you can see it in my avatar. Obviously, being ex-hire, my choice of tartans was restricted, so I got what I got.

My second kilt (Macpherson) was chosen because I liked it, at that time being unhappy about the whole Home thing (read on!) At that time, the whole family association thing didn't bother me much, but I find that it has started to do so as I get older.

So what to do...

My paternal family name is Scottish, and traceable back to 1176, but it is a small borders family and so has no tartan of its own. It is allegedly a sept of Clan Home, but I don't put much weight on the sept association and dislike the aesthetics of the tartan. Furthermore for personal reasons I'd rather honour my mother's side than my father's, so for me, Home is ruled out.

My maternal name is also Scottish, from Aberdeenshire this time, but 'lowland' in origin, so again no tartan. It is a sept of Clan MacDonald, which has an attractive tartan, but again for me, the sept association would be trumped by direct lineage.

Going a generation back, my paternal grandmother's name is again Scottish, but this time a small family from Galloway with no tartan.

My maternal grandmother's real family name is unknown for *ahem* reasons we need not go in to, so no tartan there.

So we go back a further generation, and my mother's father's mother was a Johnstone, (which traditionally on that side of my family is said to be the tartan we should wear) and here we have a tartan that I like!

So, my next kilt will be a Weathered Johnstone, which I find aesthetically pleasing, and it honours my dear mother's side of the family.

So as you can see, sometimes it is not so straighforward for Scots, even those with entirely Scottish ancestry. Some may say that's because I'm genetically mostly a lowlander, not a highlander, but I'm a Scot either way so you'd better not try to tell me I shouldn't wear a kilt!

[Liam]

Hi Bren,

I'm a native Scot with that sort of dilemma. I got my first adult kilt when I was in my late teens. Due to cost, I was restricted to ex-hire and got a Mackenzie kilt, a black barathea Braemar, a lovat green tweed Braemar, and all the accessories for £200. I still wear the tweed Braemar, it is of very high quality and despite being "ex-hire" it had never been hired out and was new when I got it. I still wear the kilt too, you can see it in my avatar. Obviously, being ex-hire, my choice of tartans was restricted, so I got what I got.

My second kilt (Macpherson) was chosen because I liked it, at that time being unhappy about the whole Home thing (read on!) At that time, the whole family association thing didn't bother me much, but I find that it has started to do so as I get older.

So what to do...

My paternal family name is Scottish, and traceable back to 1176, but it is a small borders family and so has no tartan of its own. It is allegedly a sept of Clan Home, but I don't put much weight on the sept association and dislike the aesthetics of the tartan. Furthermore for personal reasons I'd rather honour my mother's side than my father's, so for me, Home is ruled out.

My maternal name is also Scottish, from Aberdeenshire this time, but 'lowland' in origin, so again no tartan. It is a sept of Clan MacDonald, which has an attractive tartan, but again for me, the sept association would be trumped by direct lineage.

Going a generation back, my paternal grandmother's name is again Scottish, but this time a small family from Galloway with no tartan.

My maternal grandmother's real family name is unknown for *ahem* reasons we need not go in to, so no tartan there.

So we go back a further generation, and my mother's father's mother was a Johnstone, (which traditionally on that side of my family is said to be the tartan we should wear) and here we have a tartan that I like!

So, my next kilt will be a Weathered Johnstone, which I find aesthetically pleasing, and it honours my dear mother's side of the family.

So as you can see, sometimes it is not so straighforward for Scots, even those with entirely Scottish ancestry. Some may say that's because I'm genetically mostly a lowlander, not a highlander, but I'm a Scot either way so you'd better not try to tell me I shouldn't wear a kilt!

Perhaps you can in on an order of this tartan:
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/news...sp?newsID=3175

[TheOfficialBren]

Calgacus,
Thank you for sharing, my friend.

This tartanry (if that's even a word) can really have some deeply personal meaning and not always for the usual hum-drum reasons.

I can kind or relate. On Dad's side, our surname is a Lowland one from Galloway (no tartan). His mother's maiden name was Shaw (obviously Clan Shaw). Herein lies the head-scratcher. My father's family, although aware of the family history, are completely disinterested in it. My mother's family is more interested in the history of our family and it was the ladies of my family who have been amongst the strongest role models in my life (although Dad is a man among men). Granny was a Robertson. I choose to wear that tartan for now. Not exactly conventional but I'm the only kiltie in my family. No one is offended by my choice. I view it as not only honouring the clan but also honouring the strong women who have helped to shape me into the man that I am today and foster a passion for history in the process.

No one is bothered at all.

My sister and eldest brother relate more to the Cherokee line bobbing around the gene pool. I relate more to our British roots. Between us we have all of the bases covered. Pow-wow. Check. Highland games. Check. Celebration of our family's cultural diversity. Check.

I would imagine that your story (and, if I may be so bold and with no toe-stomping intended) and stories similar to mine are not so uncommon (even with a chap like you who is pretty much entirely Scottish, or a guy like me who is partly of Scottish ancestry).

The reason is simple. Life happens.

Many thanks again, my friend. An invaluable lesson can be gleaned from your story.

Slainte

[MacLowlife]

Did that happen to be agriculture?

I am told he HAD a farm.

[Malcolmcog]

Looks like choice of tartan may be a dilemma. My Father told me I should wear Sinclair as his family are from Caithness, and there are Sinclairs in my Dad's family. But, then he said I could also wear Buchan as my Mother was a sept of that clan. My Grandfather was in the Black Watch, but would wearing a regimental tartan be disrespectful ?
I had uncles that were in various Scots regiments, should I choose the tartan I like most ?

[kiltedwolfman]

Choosing a regimental tartan would not be disrespectful in the slightest, especially if you had a relative in one of the regiments. I have tartan kilts that represent each of the regiments that I personally have belonged to, and that members of my family have belonged to, and one that a very good friend had belonged to. It's a great way to show respect to the units and to the members.

[David Thorpe]

My Father told me I should wear Sinclair as his family are from Caithness, and there are Sinclairs in my Dad's family.

Dilemma solved.

[Malcolmcog]

Choosing a regimental tartan would not be disrespectful in the slightest, especially if you had a relative in one of the regiments. I have tartan kilts that represent each of the regiments that I personally have belonged to, and that members of my family have belonged to, and one that a very good friend had belonged to. It's a great way to show respect to the units and to the members.

When I say disrespectful, maybe I should have said that wearing a kilt in a tartan of a Regiment would be like wearing a Regimental tie/insignia/crest when one had never belonged to that Regiment, its something I would not do, possibly it is different when its a tartan ?