Is X Marks the Scot a Clan?

[ChromeScholar]

As far as I've been able to determine, a plant badge would literally be a twig, with some crabapple leaves worn on the hat, or at the end of the banner, to identify yourself to other members of the clan. Plant badges were probably the earliest way to identify your clan affiliation (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Two guys walk up to each other. Each has a crabapple twig, or leaves on their hat or clothes, they know they're allies.

[Panache]

...Two guys walk up to each other. Each has a crabapple twig, or leaves on their hat or clothes, they know they're allies.

Or bumped into the same tree with low hanging branches...


Seriously though, that was pretty much it.

Cheers

Jamie

[Ruanaidh]

Already done on page 12.

Per electus, non consanguinitas

Sorry, but I have to point out that the Latin word "per" is followed by the accusitive. It should read "Per electum, non consanguinitam".

[ChromeScholar]

I said it had been a long time since I did any Latin. You're undoubtedly right.

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Sorry, but I have to point out that the Latin word "per" is followed by the accusitive. It should read "Per electum, non consanguinitam".

Does this remind anyone else of The Life of Bryan?

Be well,

[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

[macwilkin]

Not to be a stickler here but the plant badge is usually just that - the plant. In that way it is separate from the clan crest and its symbols and motto.

Phil,

The plant badge is a clan symbol, though, and may be related to the Chief's arms -- for example, my clan, the Cummings, have a spring of wheat as our plant badge, since three garbs of wheat are depicted on our Chief's arms. The garbs are actually supposed to be sheafs of the Cumin plant, since one of the theories of the origin of the name Cumming comes from the Cumin plant -- it was a Norman pun.

Regards,

Todd

[pdcorlis]

Thanks for that information Todd - is this a great place or what?

[jordanjm]

Whether or not XMarks is a clan or not it is a community which I have learned a lot from, and I hope I have been able to give back a little.

And Panache,

Was the gentleman with the Boxwood from Clan MacGillivray?

[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.