Is X Marks the Scot a Clan?

[macwilkin]

A plant badge is worn BEHIND the cockade and metal badge.

In the pre-Culloden days, the badge was simply pinned to the bonnet itself, NO COCKADE or BADGE.

Historically, the emblem inside the belt was the CREST of the chief-> what appeared on the HEAD of the helmet (helm) within the coat of arms. It had LITTLE do with the plant badge, tartan, most other stuff. One of the most interesting things (to me) is the IMPORTANCE that crest has taken in the Scottish context, in contrast to MOST crests across Europe.

Actually, there were cockades worn before Culloden, John. An illustration from Reid's 18th Century Highlanders depicts a member of one of the Independent Highland Companies in the 1730's (the forerunners of the Black Watch) wearing a bonnet with a yellow cockade and a saltire or x-shaped cross made from red material. I also seem to remember a debate among ECW reenactors as to whether covenanting forces during the 1600s wore white saltires. Not sure of the documentation on that one, though.

Maybe I've misunderstood. I was preparing to order a plant badge for the Lamont Clan. The crab apple leaves are designed as part of the badge - or am I just guilty of commercial marketing?

Don -- it is my understanding that the Lamonts have an "alternate" badge that depicts their plant badge that members sometimes wear. I know of at least one person here that uses it as an avatar.

Regards,

Todd

[MacWage]

Actually, there were cockades worn before Culloden, John. An illustration from Reid's 18th Century Highlanders depicts a member of one of the Independent Highland Companies in the 1730's (the forerunners of the Black Watch) wearing a bonnet with a yellow cockade and a saltire or x-shaped cross made from red material. I also seem to remember a debate among ECW reenactors as to whether covenanting forces during the 1600s wore white saltires. Not sure of the documentation on that one, though.

OK, I was caught in a simplification of history. I was thinking of cockades,like the black ones on modern balmorals.
Of course, cockades and rosettes were used as identification in the Jacobite Rebellions (ALL of them), as well as other times. BUT, such cockades were DIFFERENT than those on modern balmorals. THAT was my intent, though I didn't go into the detail of "well, they used cockades as IDs, but those weren't like modern cockades and were either bow-ties, cross fabric (like an X), or one of several other recorded forms."
I probably SHOULD have, but didn't.

[macgreggor]

It has been a while since I have seen a thread grow so quickly!

I love the dandylion idea. Everyone forgot to mention that the little plant is TOUGH!

As for battle cries, the only battles I have been in lately have been with boredom, frustration, and self-discipline. Some how 'It's a KILT' sounds as fun as anything.

The "Are we a Clan" debate is fun. I am sort of leaning torward the "If it walks like a duck,,," way of thinking. IMHO, no one needs to 'recognize' a group which I chose to belong to. As a whole I would not hesitate to sit down over a cuppa with ANY member of this forum. Not something I can say about the little town I live in.

"By Choice, not Blood" pretty well sums up my feeling about this place.

Thanks for your patience and tolerence, EVERYBODY!

Greg