New Glengarry

[pdcorlis]

... the ribbons on Balmorals are always to be tied...

I think I remember reading that Balmoral tails can be tied or loose. Tied for lowland Scots and loose for highland Scots. Am I out to lunch on this one?

Thanks.

[bubba]

I think I remember reading that Balmoral tails can be tied or loose. Tied for lowland Scots and loose for highland Scots. Am I out to lunch on this one?

Thanks.

I recall reading the same thing awhile back

[bikercelt1]

I think I remember reading that Balmoral tails can be tied or loose. Tied for lowland Scots and loose for highland Scots. Am I out to lunch on this one?

Thanks.

My understanding is that tied Balomoral ribbons mean you're married and loose means you're available. I didn't know that lowland Scots wore the Bonnet/Balmoral

[Kiltman]

I've heard the samething about married or available. Sounds like a tale (tail) to me.

[MacWage]

As for tied or untied,

there are several lines of thoughts and many "legends." The two listed above are both often repeated (even by that famous Charles Thompson).

Reality:
Glengarry-virtually ALWAYS worn loose. They are now and almost always were fake and decorative in nature. According to the military standards, they WERE NOT to be tied.

Balmoral-> essentially a Balmoral is a more formalized version of the old bonnet. Indeed, the term "tam" (stolen from a fictional character) had to be invented to give the bonnet a name and differenciate it from the balmoral. The ribbon on balmorals are remnants or the ribbons used to size the bonnet (to keep it on the head). Bonnets were "ballparked" in creation (either by the older knitting and felting method or the later sewn together flat wool panels method) and fine tuned by ribbons. When Balmorals became made to standard sizes, the ribbons in back remained (as did a representative along the bottom edge). Therefore, most people believed they should be tied, like on the old bonnets. Others left them untied, as they no longer really do anything. Today, people do both. Seeking some sort of rational either way, great stories have been invented. Think about it. Wouldn't an untied bonnet blow off in highland wind? Why would there be any significance is most were tied to get a good fit. The only ones untied would be ones that just happened to fit perfectly as made. That was in the days they were functional. Now, they are decoration. Therefore, you can whatever you want. I tie mine, but some are even functional (homemade bonnets/balmorals). Some of my tied ones kept coming untied(hat blew off), so I made a knot and left alone, thus looking loose, though they are actually functional. So, on a balmoral either way is fine and up to personal opinion and tastes. Some see untied as lazy, while others see tied as looking "silly." Some simply cut off the ribbons entirely.