Clan Tartan Appropriateness

[Riverkilt]

Okay,

I would think it an unreasonable expectation of myself to expect that other people would have any clue about my clan tartan being "my" tartan, and honor the traditions they've never heard of - or even care about my traditions.

So, what starts the ball rolling for me is my expectation that the other guy would even have a clue. So the "problem" would be my erroneous expectations of others and any anger or irritation that would arise from those expectations.

Better just to accept that others have no clue and be glad to see the tartan flying in public than to get into a twit over what I think the other guy should do.

Some years back at a highland games a guy came up to me and berated me for wearing my Macdonald Lord of the Isle kilt. He said that was reserved for the head of the clan and I had no right to wear it. My response was a common two word response to insults. I mentioned that someone must have forgotten to tell the mills since the tartan was woven in quantity and made up into kilts, neckties, et.al. on a regular basis. I have a necktie in the tartan that I bought back in the 60s.

This guy's expectation was that I would somehow know his version of tradition and honor it and when I didn't, it angered him....his issue, not mine.

I did follow up with the Clan and all the officers assured me anyone can wear Macdonald Lord of the Isles tartan. I learned a couple years later at the same games that he'd been asked not to come around the clan tent since he was so judgemental of others based on his own unusual expectations.

Point is, it starts in me - my expectations of others...it doesn't start with them doing something "wrong" with intention.

[Chas]

I am ex-Royal Air Force and my best tank is in the RAF tartan. I do wear it with pride and enjoy telling those that ask that it is the RAF tartan and my connection to it.

There is a pipe and drum band from what was the former East Germany. They play reasonably well and they wanted a new band uniform in a predominately blue colour. They chose the RAF tartan. The only link that any of them have to the RAF is that the father of one of the pipers came from Dresden.

Am I furious, am I stomping round the house, am I biting lumps out of the carpet - no.

But I am a bit miffed.

Does this go some way to answering your question?

Regards

Chas

[Mickey]

Thanks guys!

Chas, thanks man, that is exactly what I am wondering. I don't have a clan, and am rather fascinated by them and know there is a lot of pride within them. So I just got to wondering if they had the same views towards their tartans.

If I walked up to a clan tent at a gathering and announce that I'm wearing their tartan simply because I like the look, would it make people's skin tingle a bit?

I don't mean to put anybody on the spot, which in hindsight, I sort of did in even asking the question, and for that I do apologize. It was not my intention to call out any jerks that Riverkilt mentioned. It was just a follow-up thought to the debate my wife and I were having.

[CDNSushi]

Not being Scottish, and not having a clan tartan as such, I can only extrapolate as best as I can. If I WERE in such a situation (being a member of a clan) and I saw someone wearing my clan's tartan and I KNEW he was not of our clan, it most certainly would NOT put me off in any way that he chose (among the thousands of tartans out there) to wear ours, even if for no other reason but that he liked the colour or design...

Now, mind you, that applies only to respectful use, of course. If I saw you looking and acting like a jackass, or wearing it torn or dirty or in a way that indicated a disdain or disregard for it, I would certainly be quite miffed, and more than likely would even tell you so directly... Or if I saw you using our clan tartan as a dishrag or blanket for the dog to sit on, or to wipe up grease, or something similar... But that's a different story.

I also think that's different from a USMC shirt, especially with all the insignias, ribbons, and so on. Heck, I see Japanese teens running around wearing bits and pieces of boy scout uniforms as fashion statements and it kinda chafes me because I was a boy scout myself and I wore my uniform proudly and respectfully... And I know that a) they are (and were) not in the boy scouts, b) they often wear it crinkled and dirty, or worse, and c) they have NO idea what it is, the meaning, symbolism, and history behind it.

Hope that helps your survey...

[Jock Scot]

Thanks guys!



If I walked up to a clan tent at a gathering and announce that I'm wearing their tartan simply because I like the look, would it make people's skin tingle a bit?

It is true I would not be best pleased at a comment like that, although it would not warrant, or deserve a reply, a withering look would be appropriate though.

As to military badges of rank and medals being worn by those not entitled to them, Britain, the Commonwealth and me are rather less relaxed over that than the USA in general appears to be. The British are not looking for any excuse to wear military decorations, but we do proudly wear Regimental ties regularly.

[Mickey]

Thanks Sushi,

Being in the same boat as you, I have the same feelings.

Great analogy. I also see kids that I know personally in bits of scout wear here that I know were not in the scouts and it bugs me too. Not my place to say anything to them, but yeah.

[Spartan Tartan]

Mickey,
I don't have a clan either, but I can answer you quickly with: yes. It would bother me. I'm in the military and it bothers me a great deal when I see people wearing stuff they don't deserve...ESPECIALLY if it's military badges and what not. Just knowing that about myself, I suspect it would get under my skin. I certainly wouldn't say or do anything...but i suspect it would bother me.

That does sound a bit harsh, not intended to be so. Just trying to answer your question.

[ctbuchanan]

I have often spotted the Buchanan tartan being worn by someone at a highland games or festival. Being a Buchanan I will almost always stop to say hello and inquire of their affiliation (sept or family name etc.).

On occasion they will say that they are not a Buchanan, and that they just like the tartan. I always compliment on their obvious good taste in tartans.

I know of several competitors in the athletic games who are not Scottish and wear the Buchanan tartan because it is available in a sport kilt and they like it.

We are in the U.S.A. it doesn't bother me in the least.

Now if they tried to pass themselves off as a member of the Clan and I found out they weren't. That might annoy me a bit to start and more if they continued.

[MacMillans son]

I know that most, if not all, Clan tartans are not THAT old, compared to many antiquities, but many tartans are still older than some countries.

Subtle Jock, reeeeeally subtle!

In regards to your stepsons, if one of them told you that, due to his affinity for you and your family, he would prefer to wear your tartan as his clan tartan, would you council him against that, or accept his choice with honor? I'm just trying to figure out if there is a difference over there between a wife's choice, as with accepting a husbands name when married, compared with other's choices.

"...older than some countries" What are we going to do with you?

Best regards,

Brooke

[cormacmacguardhe]

Coming from a rather small clan (MacQuarrie) I would be more likely to assume that someone wearing my clan tartan was a clan member. That being said, I frequently wear my SWK Leatherneck even though I was never in the Marines, I do tell those who ask that I am wearing it to honor my brothers service during the Korean war. If someone is wearing a tartan in an inappropriate fashion that does tend to irritate me, but I am not the tartan police, so I write it off to their ignorance and go on my way, leaving them to be snickered at by those in the know.