"Rules" for wearing family tartan

[Micric]

Yes jake, I quite agree!

I'm not just a "Whimsy tartan anarchist"
It seems I'm an "Obnoxious Whimsy Tartan Anarchist!!"

My, That's impressive!!

Can't help but think of Billy Connoley, as the rough Highlander the "Blackadder" series.

He sits in Edmunds chair.
Edmund says,
" I'm sorry, but that's my seat!"

To which Billy replies,
"'s'allright,..dont apologise!!"

and I wont. :-)

[BoldHighlander]

Gentlemen, all this talk about 'right' or 'entitlement' to wear certain clan tartans causes me to pause & go back and re-read my previous post where I quoted the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs on the subject:

Similarly, there is no real restriction on the wearing of a specific tartan, apart from good taste. The typical statement 'my great-grandmother was a MacPherson therefore I have the right to wear the clan tartan' has no basis in fact. No such 'right' exists. Also, a man takes his father's idenitity only, and any claims made through the female line are not, strictly speaking, valid. In fact, there is nothing to stop anyone wearing whatever pattern of tartan takes their fancy but they should not, it is suggested, make invalid claims as to any reason they may have for doing so..."

Now from what I gather from this is that (a) there is no so-called 'right' or 'entitlement' to certain clan tartans, that is another "kilt myth" (b) yes, my heritage/blood linage is Macdonalds, Mackay etc & I can choose to wear any of those clans tartans (or not) as I wish, but then so can anyone else not of the name or blood, just don't (c) make any invalid claims as to why (e.g. don't claim to be a Macdonald if your not), & (d) wear it in good taste is all.

Let's once & for all put this so-called 'right' & 'entitlement' argument to bed.
If its good enough for the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs to say no such 'right' exist, then its good enough for me!

[auld argonian]

However clearly and logically the cooler heads on this forum explain this, there will still be the drunk wearing pants at the Highland Games who will be challenging you to a throw-down because you're wearing his family tartan that has been his family's tartan for thousands of years........

Best

AA

[BoldHighlander]

However clearly and logically the cooler heads on this forum explain this, there will still be the drunk wearing pants at the Highland Games who will be challenging you to a throw-down because you're wearing his family tartan that has been his family's tartan for thousands of years........

Indeed!

[BoldHighlander]

There is a point where myth becomes tradition, not only tradition but respected tradition. Whole religions are based upon such myths.

I have nothing against 'traditions', in fact I'm all for them, but I also do not wish to foist off kilt myths about 'rights' or 'entitlements' when no such rights actually exist, lest I be looked upon as some sort of elitist snob (which I am not).

[BoldHighlander]

So you subscribe to the "I'll take your made-up clan tartan designs, but not the made-up rules about wearing them" philosophy? It must be very liberating to be able to pick and choose (and disregard) what parts of tradition that you respect.

Hardly. In the case of my Macdonell of Keppoch tartan (#511), it pre-dates the '45 & was given by the Keppoch chief to the Young Pretender. Even the "Modern" (aka Green) Mackay tartan, a sample of which was signed and sealed by the Chief (Lord Reay) for the Highland Society of London in 1816, is almost identical to a description of the tartan worn by the Mackay Regt in the 30 Years War. Either way both pre-date the 'Sobieski' twins or any 'made-up clan tartan designs'.

As for disregarding 'tradition' on the elitist attitude of a 'right' to wear a clan tartan only if you have the name, that is a 'right' the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs says does not exist. Why is that so hard to understand? And why do I feel like I'm beating my head against a brick wall?!

I feel like any more discussion on this subject is pointless. It is evident from this thread that you are entrenched in your elitist mindset & will not concede the point, therefore I feel like anything else said on my part is just throwing more fuel on an endless fire.