Feathers and plants

**wyldathart** · 19th March 09, 11:33 AM

Ok I know the rule about feathers in the bonnets. Bad Juju to say the least if your not a chief. I've seen a different number of feathers in bonnets. do the number of feathers signify something?
I know some clans have a clan plant that you can tuck a sprig in behind your cap badge. My clan does not have a clan plant.
What is acceptable to wear on my balmoral?

**Jack Daw** · 19th March 09, 11:36 AM

Three eagle feathers for a Chief, two for a Chieftain (head of a clan branch), and one for an armiger (someone who has been granted a coat of arms by the Lord Lyon). Pull a sprig from a plant that grows in your yard. I've done that under certain circumstances.

**piperdbh** · 19th March 09, 11:38 AM

I had the same question about the plant and emailed my clan chief, and he said we don't have a plant. I knew that already. He went on to say that the estate grows some lovely heather which would be perfectly acceptable to wear behind a cap badge. The only problem is, I don't have access to that lovely heather, since I'm an ocean and a continent away. If your local florist can get some heather, it can be dried and put behind the badge. Your state flower could also work, I think.

**EagleJCS** · 19th March 09, 11:54 AM

Jack is correct. The President of a Clan Society may also wear two feathers, if I'm not mistaken.

I know in the Clan Scott Society, the elected President of the Society is titled 'Chieftan' and is accepted as a clan chieftan by the heraldic chief of Clan Scott. (I don't want to start a big discussion here about 'what constitutes a clan'. Essentially, a Clan Society is an incorporated collection of folks with the name of, or relatives/ancestors with - but not necessarily blood-kin related to - the original clan or one of the generally accepted septs. Seeing as how the clan system broke down over 200 years ago, I imagine it would be difficult to ascertain an actual blood-kin relationship to a chief or one of the septs.)

If you want to put a piece of plant on your Balmoral, wyld, why not a spring of heather or thistle? They're generally identified with Scotland, and most people wouldn't really know the difference anyway. (I know I wouldn't.)

**macwilkin** · 19th March 09, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by EagleJCS

Jack is correct. The President of a Clan Society may also wear two feathers, if I'm not mistaken.

I've never seen anything from the Lyon Court that authorises a clan society president to wear feathers in their bonnet. The following leaflet explains the custom:

http://www.scotarmigers.net/pdfs/info-leaflet-2.pdf

I know in the Clan Scott Society, the elected President of the Society is titled 'Chieftan' and is accepted as a clan chieftan by the heraldic chief of Clan Scott.

I'd like to see a statement from the Duke of Buccleuch regarding this claim, or if the Lord Lyon recognises it. Again, I've never heard of such a practice before.

Respectfully,

Todd

**macwilkin** · 19th March 09, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

I had the same question about the plant and emailed my clan chief, and he said we don't have a plant. I knew that already. He went on to say that the estate grows some lovely heather which would be perfectly acceptable to wear behind a cap badge. The only problem is, I don't have access to that lovely heather, since I'm an ocean and a continent away. If your local florist can get some heather, it can be dried and put behind the badge. Your state flower could also work, I think.

I like the suggestion of the state flower. Might have to go find a wild rose for Iowa...

T.

**JSFMACLJR** · 19th March 09, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

I've never seen anything from the Lyon Court that authorises a clan society president to wear feathers in their bonnet. The following leaflet explains the custom:

http://www.scotarmigers.net/pdfs/info-leaflet-2.pdf

I'd like to see a statement from the Duke of Buccleuch regarding this claim, or if the Lord Lyon recognises it. Again, I've never heard of such a practice before.

Respectfully,

Todd

I must agree with Todd. Many erroneously think that a "chieftain" of a clan society is in fact a "real chieftain," being the head of a major branch within the clan.

There is also some debate about the appropriateness of feudal barons wearing two feathers in their bonnets. Some say yes, others no. I would have to say no, but we can debate that over in the HSS Forum!

Regards,
Sandford

**Panache** · 19th March 09, 12:28 PM

Thread moved to Tartans and Heraldry forum.

Cheers

Jamie

**wyldathart** · 19th March 09, 12:51 PM

Ok thanks guys, thats clears it up for me. I love the idea of the state flower. Georgia's state flower is the Cherokee rose so that might look good behind a cap badge.

**Twa_Corbies** · 19th March 09, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by wyldathart

Ok I know the rule about feathers in the bonnets. Bad Juju to say the least if your not a chief. I've seen a different number of feathers in bonnets. do the number of feathers signify something?
I know some clans have a clan plant that you can tuck a sprig in behind your cap badge. My clan does not have a clan plant.
What is acceptable to wear on my balmoral?

Many clans/families/names will have affiliations with other clans (where they are sometimes considerd a "sept" - though this is more of an Irish term and not exactly appropriate for families that are considered members of larger clans). If your clan has ties to another clan, say the MacDonalds or whoever, you would be perfectly fine wearing the plant-badge of their clan if you wanted to.