Allowed tartans

[Monkey@Arms]

There is some thing to be said for bring able to recognize folks from your own family or clan by the tartans they are wearing, at scottish events.

Given the extremely subtle differences in some tartans, plus the multiple variants, and the same tartan going under different names (e.g. Campbell=Grant Hunting=Munro Hunting=Sutherland District=Black Watch) you sometimes need a really good eye to do that. (Loud McLeod excepted)

Best regards,

Jake

[macwilkin]

Given the extremely subtle differences in some tartans, plus the multiple variants, and the same tartan going under different names (e.g. Campbell=Grant Hunting=Munro Hunting=Sutherland District=Black Watch) you sometimes need a really good eye to do that. (Loud McLeod excepted)

Best regards,

Jake

That's half the fun of Scottish events for me, though -- trying to ID tartans. Besides, it's a good way to socialize wi' folks -- I love it when people ask me about my tartan -- but we history teachers love to give lectures at the drop of a bonnet!

T.

[katmills2005]

"ai hae nay tolerance fur intolerance"

I am of both Clan Gordon and Clan Davidson. Understanding that I'm just a female, I'll weigh in on the topic of heritage.

I see no problem with people enjoying the variety offered in Scottish tartans of any clan. We are blessed to have so many different tartans to choose from. To some people, the Black Watch is too dark, others don't care for the color red, or perhaps green. So why should we "require" them to wear that or wear something in a solid. In addition, some own more than one kilt. Why should they limit their selection? Would you want to wear the same color shirt every day?

Life is too short folks... Live and let live. Harm None. So Mote It Be.

[majdan]

majdan,

I find myself coming back to this Site:

http://tartans.byair.net/index.php

...

for reference. There are many snippets of historical information as well as connections to other tartans,the time they were created and/or discovered, etc. I hope it helps.

~Reece

Thanks Reece.

The lable "Official" really has no meaning in this tartan discussion truefully and I have no issues with anyone wearing any sort of Montgomery at all. Just another person to buy a drink. I just prefer the Montgomery Anicent because all the purple in the modern kind of puts me off. Being an Infantry officer I have a preferance for light Blue(the color of the Infantry) and green.

Thanks for the link BTW

Dan

[O'Cathain]

No one wears tartan for no reason, unless it is a flannel shirt. To most, "I like the colors" is a laughable and idiotic answer. The clan would be offended at that.

I usually don't put in my 2 cents, but after reading through this post and coming to this statement, I felt I had to. Most people who are not of Scottish origins choose the tartan they wear by color first and then the symbolism, honour or history behind it. How many people go to a website and look at the tartan colors and then the clan assosiated with it. For instance I like the Buchanan Tartan colors and decide to purchase a kilt. I have no Scottish ancestory, that I know of, but I lived in Pennsylvania at one time and our 15th President, James Buchanan was from PA. I also dated a girl who's mother was a Buchanan. But you know, I live in New Mexico now and I no longer date that girl. BUT I LIKE THE BUCHANAN TARTAN! So I'm buying it because I like the colors. Of course, I research the tartan after I've decided on the tartan, learn about the clan and it's history, but in the end I like the colors and that's why I decided on that tartan.

How many people would wear an ugly tartan, not that there is any, and be confident and proud? Who's to say what anyone can or can't wear a tartan JUST because they like the colors? To alot of us non-Scots, it's about the freedom to be able to wear what we want to wear.

[Mr. MacDougall]

How many people would wear an ugly tartan, not that there is any, and be confident and proud? (...) To alot of us non-Scots, it's about the freedom to be able to wear what we want to wear.

Or not wear. I have to confess, I feel the MacDougall tartan was designed by someone color-blind. The colors don't go together, to my eye, and the sett is far too busy. It's barely acceptable in some of the large-sett versions. But... I still wear it on occasion, out of a feeling of loyalty to the alfar.

[majdan]

In the end it is only cloth after all. Now just speaking for me and only me, I'm sure others have their own POV and that is perfectly fine with me, but the kilt is about the clan. I wear it to show solidarty with my old folk. Do you really think that anyone would wear either of the two Montgomery tartans otherwise. There are many other tartans that I like much better but none represent my clan. I guess it's sort of like gang colors, or team colors, or branch colors(for us army officers) in a way. That's why I have so many things in Green and Yellow(University of Oregon) and Light Blue (The Infantry color). That's just my view of things and I don't expect anyone to feel the same. That being said I like it when people wear the Montgomery tartan just because they like it. It makes me feel good that someone would find our tartan visually atractive.

[macwilkin]

In the end it is only cloth after all. Now just speaking for me and only me, I'm sure others have their own POV and that is perfectly fine with me, but the kilt is about the clan. I wear it to show solidarty with my old folk. Do you really think that anyone would wear either of the two Montgomery tartans otherwise. There are many other tartans that I like much better but none represent my clan. I guess it's sort of like gang colors, or team colors, or branch colors(for us army officers) in a way. That's why I have so many things in Green and Yellow(University of Oregon) and Light Blue (The Infantry color). That's just my view of things and I don't expect anyone to feel the same. That being said I like it when people wear the Montgomery tartan just because they like it. It makes me feel good that someone would find our tartan visually atractive.

You're not alone, majdan, in your sentiments. For me, the kilt is about clan and heritage as well; whilst there are some other clan's tartans that I really like (Mackenzie of Seaforth), I just can't bring myself to do it.

Of course, the district tartan is always a good choice, especially for a second kilt -- either the district your family came from, or the state/province where they settled.

Regards,

Todd

[Raptor]

Likewise! It's all about clan for me too. I absolutely love the weathered MacKenzie, but even though I have a good mate who is a Seaforth Mackenzie, I couldn't even bring myself to wear it to honour him. I cant even bring myself to wear the wife's Johnston, & that only differs from my own in the positioning of the black stripes. That is not to belittle these tartans in any way shape or form, just that I personally need the clan connection for it to work for me.

[Phil]

Apologies if you've seen this before but here is an interesting article which clarifies a few myths about kilt-wearing and tartan entitlement.

http://thecapitalscot.com/pastfeatures/kiltstuf.html

It is only a piece of cloth after all.