Was Tartan ever actually banned?

[Kilted-Marine]

And again, in over a decade of researching the Kirkin' service, I have not found any reliable evidence that there was one before 1941. If someone has one, I would love to see it.

T.

I am not sure what reliable evidence you would need or accept. A hand written note from somebody dated 1790, A church entry that talked about it. Neither of which you will find since Folklore talks about it happening when the tartan was banned and paper was not as available as it is today.

As too a decade of study - it took Howard carter 31 years to find King Tut.. keep looking - i would like to know the truth

I stand by my statement that it may not have happened but it it is impossible to prove that it did not happen.

[macwilkin]

I am not sure what reliable evidence you would need or accept. A hand written note from somebody dated 1790, A church entry that talked about it. Neither of which you will find since Folklore talks about it happening when the tartan was banned and paper was not as available as it is today.

As too a decade of study - it took Howard carter 31 years to find King Tut.. keep looking - i would like to know the truth

I stand by my statement that it may not have happened but it it is impossible to prove that it did not happen.

I'm not sure what folklore you're referring to -- folklore has been documented & researched since the late 1700s. In my article I mentioned Alexander Carmichael, a noted folklorist who collected prayers, hymns and incantations from the Highlands. If the Kirkin existed in folklore, he would have found it. He lists a prayer for the weaver's cloth, but nothing like a kirkin service.

I'm just not willing to stake my professional reputation as a historian & librarian on your assumptions. My stock & trade is primary & secondary sources.

T.

[figheadair]

I am not sure what reliable evidence you would need or accept. A hand written note from somebody dated 1790, A church entry that talked about it. Neither of which you will find since Folklore talks about it happening when the tartan was banned and paper was not as available as it is today.

But the whole point of my original post was to point out that it 'appears' from reading copies of the Act that tartan per se was not banned.

I see I've started a hare running that's disappeared off down a different rabbit hole (to mix my game metaphores). All very interesting but perhaps the Kirkin should be discussed in a separate thread as it rather detracts for discussing one of the fundamental myths (if I'm right) surrounding tartan.