"Rules" for wearing family tartan

[Tim P]

My take on it is that there are a number of tartans that are not clan tartans which, due to that fact, cannot offend any pretender to a clan.
I am a strong believer (my own value system and without prejudice to anyone who disagrees) in a degree of entitlement in your choice even if that is tenuous.

I can only find one tartan I can lay a claim to and it just so happens that I like it.

I can understand people getting precious about it but I also think that the Victorians have a lot to answer for with their gross and misplaced 'propriety'.

[davidlpope]

I'm sure of it, They are eagles feathers!

My filter doesn't allow me to access Youtube right now, so I can't watch the movie you are referencing, but in the meantime, this may help:


Here is a photo of a Gordon Highlander glengarry with blackcock feathers.



Here is a photo of the same type of glengarry, but seen from the reverse side. The "white below/ black above" coloring of the blackcock feathers may be what you're interpreting as "eagle feathers".



For comparison, here is a photo of the Royal Company of Archers. You'll see they are wearing eagle feathers, which look quite different from the blackcock feathers.



I'll watch the Youtube video tonight when I have a chance and see if I can see what you're seeing.

Cordially,

David

[BoldHighlander]

Are you sure? I noticed the feathers in a video of some of the guys from our pipe band, The 48th Highlanders of Canada, in Aberdeen last spring on Tartan day playing with the Gordons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkQI_...eature=related

My filter doesn't allow me to access Youtube right now, so I can't watch the movie you are referencing, but in the meantime, this may help:

Here is a photo of a Gordon Highlander glengarry with blackcock feathers.


For comparison, here is a photo of the Royal Company of Archers. You'll see they are wearing eagle feathers, which look quite different from the blackcock feathers.


I'll watch the Youtube video tonight when I have a chance and see if I can see what you're seeing.

Hi David,

I just watched the video in question & while some individuals are defintly wearing blackcock feathers, about 30 seconds into it you can see what appears to be cut-down eagle feathers (42 seconds into it you get a rather good view of the feathers). The camera jogs around a bit, but at about 2:07 into it you get a fairly decent view of the back of one of these feathers too.

[Andrew M. Stewart]

I'm well aware of what blackcock feathers are, these are definetly eagle feathers. I may have the regiment wrong though. It was a massed band of various regimental pipe bands from Australia, Canada, England (I Think the London Scots were there) and Scotland. In the video is the Toronto Scottish( Hodden gray Like the London Scots), 48th Highlanders (Stewart of Fingask for Pipers and Davidson tartan for drummers), Gordon's as well as some others. The Gordon's no longer exist as a regiment but there still is a pipe band association of the ex members that get together for ceremonial purposes.

[OC Richard]

The pipers of the Cameron Highlanders > Queens Own Highlanders > The Highlanders wore/wear an eagle feather in the Glengarry:



Notice the differing colouring between this and the North American eagle feather which is white with a black tip.

[davidlpope]

The pipers of the Cameron Highlanders > Queens Own Highlanders > The Highlanders wore/wear an eagle feather in the Glengarry:



Notice the differing colouring between this and the North American eagle feather which is white with a black tip.

Right,

Finally had a chance to watch the Youtube video. These look to be pipers from The Highlanders (Cameron of Erracht kilts and plaids, Gordon pipe bag covers, Mackenzie drone ribbons) wearing eagle feathers.

As an aside, I don't think there is any distinction in species between the British and North American varieties of the Golden Eagle. The Golden Eagle's feathers' coloration is based on the age of the bird. Only immature Golden Eagle feathers feature the distinct black tip/ white body. The link below, although showing hand-painted imitation feathers for powwow use, depicts several of the different color variations that one would find with natural Golden Eagle feathers.
http://www.matoska.com/cgibin/gencat...L&S1S2=52%2C23

Cordially,

David

[OC Richard]

Thanks for that link, I didn't know that.

I've been told that European eagles are different, so I accepted it, because I know nothing about the subject of bird species.

The pipers of the regiment have been wearing eagle feather for a long time.

Here they are in 1852:

[DRUMMIE]

The youtube video you are talking about is the Gordon Highlanders International Beating Retreat. This coincided with The Homecoming Scotland celebrations. Participating bands and contingents came from:

The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons, and Camerons) 4th batt. The Royal Regiment of Scotland (Pipes and Drums)
The Gordon Highlanders Association (Drums and Pipes)
Aberdeen Universities Officers' training Corps (Drums and Pipes)
The Toronto Scottish (Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother's own (Pipes and Drums)
48th Highlanders of Canada (Pipes and Drums)
Cape Town Highlanders (Drums and Pipes)
5/6 Batt Royal Victoria Regiment (Pipes and Drums)
The London Scottish (Pipes and Drums)

A programme of events was as follows:

July 29, 2008 The Gordon Highlanders Museum Beating Retreat
July 30, 2009 Huntly Mini-tattoo
July 31, 2009 Museum fundraising dinner
August 1, 2009 Aboyne Highland Games
August 2, 2009 Tartan Day Beating Retreat, Aberdeen

The only pipers on parade wearing eagle feathers were the Highlanders. The ONLY Regiment to do so, this was inherited from the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. All other pipers wore Blackcocktail feathers. The modern feathers are synthetic, as it is very difficult to get authentic feathers. If you are friendly with a gamekeeper then you may be in luck!