Kilts???

[Rampant Lion]

Only a clan chief wears the clan badge; everyone else wears it enclosed in a buckler.

This is a little different from what I understand. I always thought that the the Crest of the Arms of the chief of the clan surrounded by the belt and buckle (I've seen this called a garter) is what is commonly referred to as the Clan Badge. It was this Clan Badge that clansmen were to wear. It is my understsanding that the chief may display his Arms; the crest, shield, supporters, etc.. or where the badge with (3) feathers.

Crests

[macwilkin]

This is a little different from what I understand. I always thought that the the Crest of the Arms of the chief of the clan surrounded by the belt and buckle (I've seen this called a garter) is what is commonly referred to as the Clan Badge. It was this Clan Badge that clansmen were to wear. It is my understsanding that the chief may display his Arms; the crest, shield, supporters, etc.. or where the badge with (3) feathers.

Crests

I've never seen a plain circlet with the full achievement of arms, only the motto and the crest, but that doesn't mean it's not out there!

T.

[Rampant Lion]

I've never seen a plain circlet with the full achievement of arms, only the motto and the crest, but that doesn't mean it's not out there!

T.

Me neither. PiobBear said that only the Clan Chief wears the clan badge and everyone else wears it in a buckler. What I was trying to say in my post was that I thought that a Clan Badge was the crest in the belt(garter). Thereby, clansmen wear the clan badge.

Isn't this(these) the Grant Clan Badge that clansmen would wear?

Or am I confused with the terminology?

[rickmac15]

Welcome to xmarks the scot. check out the tartans museme one of our advertisers. most of your questions can be answered there

[PiobBear]

A solid green kilt often (but not necessarily) connotes an Irishman; a saffron one always does.

I would dispute that. While widely accepted by Irish groups, there's historical evidence that it was used widely by Celts on the continent, before migration to the British Isles.

Please, by all means; dispute away. Please cite even one reputable reference for a saffron kilt (or any Irish kilt for that matter) prior to the 1880's, and your "historical evidence that it (the kilt) was used widely by Celts on the continent, before migration to the British Isles".

[Galician]

Please, by all means; dispute away. Please cite even one reputable reference for a saffron kilt (or any Irish kilt for that matter) prior to the 1880's, and your "historical evidence that it (the kilt) was used widely by Celts on the continent, before migration to the British Isles".

Sorry, but this is simply incorrect. Bare-legged kilt wearing developed uniquely in the highlands of Scotland due to geographic and terrain considerations. All other northern-Europeans (including the large and diverse mass of Celts) were trouser wearers...!

You both missed the point I was disputing, viz., that the use of of SAFFRON for garments was unique to the Irish. Julius Caesar made note in his writings of the use of this color among the Celtic tribes he observed-and fought. I have no argument with the development of the kilt itself as a Scottish contribution.

[TheKiltedWonder]

Welcome! The tartan museum is a good source of info as others have stated. As for red representing social class, I believe I have heard an urban legend (or a suburban one?) that the colors meant something. From what I recall the answer is yes and no. Red tartans weren't restricted to the upper classes by law, but a good red dye is expensive because it was a tricky color, so that anyone with the money for cloth dyed red was probably wealthy. That's how I recall it in any case. If Matt disagrees with me, just take his explanation

[Tommie]

Have to ask: Sam have you ever wore a kilt?
Are you planning to purchase one?
Will you wear it whenever and where ever you want?
If non of the above I would'nt waste money buying one.

[Nighthawk]

Hey there, Sam! I have nothing to add to what these fine gentlemen have said already (they all beat me to it) so I'll just say :beer:

Oops! I mean...

[graham_s]

working with experimental archaeologist occasionally, I found out an interesting little snippet of info.
natural dyes. the colours can change depending on where the plant/lichen was harvested. a dye made from the same plant can be a totally different shade depending on where you got it.
The origin may well be that as cloth was woven and dyed locally, you could tell where someone was from by the colour their cloth was.
Some of the colours that can be obtained are quite vivid. I've seen a vivid electric purple produced which is remarkably colourfast.