Allowed tartans

[Bryan]

I'm new on these forums, but here's my opinion.

Growing up I always had some weird obsession with all things Scottish/Irish. Music, dress, food, anything. At the age of 10ish I asked if we had any Scottish/Irish blood in the family and was told, "No, you're German (my mother is from Germany by way of an American father/German mother and my father's family is originally from Germany)" and I grew up steeped in German culture and tradition, which I am fiercely proud of. But there remained my fascination with the Celtic lands.

As I got older I wanted a kilt badly, but couldn't rationalize wearing one as I wasn't Scottish. I eventually got married to a lovely girl of Scottish/Irish descent and finally had my reason to wear a kilt/tartan. So, I got my one and only kilt in HER family's tartan which happens to be Lamont. I thought, "Hey, I married into her family, right?"

After a little research recently, I discovered that I do indeed have Scottish ancestry on my mother's side (her Grandmother was a Butters, an old Scottish family long associated with Clan Murray) so I've decided to get another kilt made in my own clan's tartan.

Now we come to my opinion. I chose tartans that has some special meaning for ME. Whether it's my family's tartan or my spouse's tartan, or something like the Confederate Memorial Tartan, which for me as a born and raised Texan, means a lot because it is part of the history of my state. Choosing another tartan completely, is more than fine. Wear it proudly and enjoy it!

Being German, it wouldn't offend me to see someone who isn't German "parading" around in Lederhosen, drinking German beer, and eating Schnitzel.

Apologies in advance if I've repeated anything anyone else said, 19 pages of posts is a lot to get through.