Clan Banners

[MacBean]

Information:

http://www.fraserchief.co.uk/heraldry.html

Scroll down to "Flags", and you will see some good examples.

T.

That's almost enough. In NYC, at the Tartan Day Parade, a banner with a badge, but without the name of the clan, isn't going to be much use to the chaps in the reviewing stand who are wondering who is marching past. I'd have thought that at Clan Tents at Games in the US, folks would want to find family names they recognized, and wouldn't want to have to decipher the badges for each.

It sounds like flags with arms are for the Chief alone. Is that correct? (unclear what "plain arms" are as opposed to "arms").

And what if we decided to use emblems that were recognizable but not part of the arms (for example, wildcats for Chattan)?

[davidlpope]

That's almost enough. In NYC, at the Tartan Day Parade, a banner with a badge, but without the name of the clan, isn't going to be much use to the chaps in the reviewing stand who are wondering who is marching past. I'd have thought that at Clan Tents at Games in the US, folks would want to find family names they recognized, and wouldn't want to have to decipher the badges for each.
I suppose the simple explanation is that a clansman should recognize his own clan badge (the crest of the clan chief surrounded by the strap and buckle of the retainer)... Perhaps the simplest solution is to have a banner made with the words "Clan MacWhatever" on it in large letters.

It sounds like flags with arms are for the Chief alone. Is that correct? (unclear what "plain arms" are as opposed to "arms").
Arms displayed on a flag/banner are used to denote the presence of the armiger. If your chief is in attendance he will probably be accompanied by his flag/banner. If your chief is not present you should not display his personal standard.

And what if we decided to use emblems that were recognizable but not part of the arms (for example, wildcats for Chattan)?
The issue with this is that the "emblem" is probably part of the chief's arms (i.e. the crest). If you are going to display the crest of your chief it should be displayed within the strap and buckle, denoting that you are his followers, vice a sign of his personal presence.

[macwilkin]

That's almost enough. In NYC, at the Tartan Day Parade, a banner with a badge, but without the name of the clan, isn't going to be much use to the chaps in the reviewing stand who are wondering who is marching past. I'd have thought that at Clan Tents at Games in the US, folks would want to find family names they recognized, and wouldn't want to have to decipher the badges for each.

It sounds like flags with arms are for the Chief alone. Is that correct? (unclear what "plain arms" are as opposed to "arms").

And what if we decided to use emblems that were recognizable but not part of the arms (for example, wildcats for Chattan)?

Some clans will have a banner hanging from their tent with the words "Clan Whatever" to allow visitors to clan row to identify "their" clan tent, as well as a more formal banner as Lady Saltoun describes in her article.

While I see the need for a compromise to allow folks to more easily identify their clan, I still prefer the recommendations of Lady Saltoun's article, which conform to Highland custom -- if we're going to "play Highlander", we should at least pay some heed to it.

T.

[davidlpope]

While I see the need for a compromise to allow folks to more easily identify their clan, I still prefer the recommendations of Lady Saltoun's article, which conform to Highland custom -- if we're going to "play Highlander", we should at least pay some heed to it.

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