The most ridiculous.......

[ForresterModern]

I am currently reading two great books at the present: One is::A Concise
History of Scotland by Fitzroy MacClean and the second is SCOTLAND: The
Story of a Nation by Mangus MacNusson.

Both are fantastic books and given me a great deal of new information that I
wasn't aware of, or had been informed of incorrectly. Most of what I am learning I never knew at any level, fact or fable.

I would recommend them both to anyone who enjoys reading history and is a Scot at heart.

I finished Magnussons book a few months ago. Great book, as far as I can tell well researched.

[puffer]

OKAY, here goes

Three of the "GREATEST "Highland" Heroes were Highlanders. ( The BRUCE, WALLACE & Sir James Douglas ) THEY WERE NOT. All 3 were LOWLANDERS.



Puffer

[ForresterModern]

There is certainly a great deal of misunderstanding and misinterpretation about Scotland and its history and, in particular, the present-day fashion for creating "clans" where none ever actually existed. Border families such as Armstrongs, Bells, Scotts, Nixons, Douglas's, Croziers etc. were never clans in the way people understand clans to have been and most certainly never wore any form of highland garb. They were little more than bands of outlaws related to each other, able to exist in the lawless border country before the Union of the Crowns, and to find nowadays pseudo clan societies set up in their names, sporting newly created tartans is totally misleading. So what does this say about modern-day attitudes which seek to create such fictitious clans where none ever existed in reality?

Border Reivers---they were families but not with quite the social structure of the Highland clans which so many of them have tried to emulate with tartan and clan designations in the last half century or so.

I may fall into that category as Forresters were from west Lothian all the way across through Stirling almost to Glasgow, and were a sept of both Douglas and MacDonald at various times. Interesting that our family "clan" society was started in the early 1990's and our clan tartans designed and registered shortly thereafter. Obviously a long line of kilted heritage there. I do have a fair amount of Allen in me (Allan, MacAllan) which does have substantial highland background, however, so I guess that makes me a bit less of a poseur when I am kilted in whatever tartan I have on at the time, Forrester, Douglas, MacDonald or Allen. But once a Reiver, always a Reiver.

[skauwt]

the myth that we(as in all us scots) still live in wee crofts and small farms with our sheep and highland coo`s and that we live the way some folk mightve have lived in the medieval times ,ive met folk who are suprised to learn that i live in a town with a population of over 60,000 folk and not some hamlet with everyone related ,
also when i talk of the iron and coal industry that had thrived in this region for 300 years ive people that think im telling lies again thinking we are just some bunch of choochter`s chasing our cattle&sheep through the glens not thinking that folk have been busting there backsides down mines and foundries for generations to fuel the world as we know it today ,

another cracker i read about the chisholm clan boar symbol was that two chisholm`s saved some king of scotland from a wild boar i reckon theres a good few clans that say that one
that scotland is always cold and being scottish i must be immune to bad weather and rain
and heres one for easter jesus spent some time in scotland for his holidays

but one myth youve gotta love is the good old 3 legged wild haggis as pictured here ..this is actually in the kelvingrove museum in glasgow gotta love who made that wee thing up ,i must admit ive had a few people thinking they do live but who am i to tell them otherwise

[Phogfan86]

Is this where I mention that I picked up Magnusson's book new for $1 and $3.99 shipping from one of amazon.com's used book dealers?

Me FTW.

[JSFMACLJR]

I am currently reading two great books at the present: One is::A Concise
History of Scotland by Fitzroy MacClean and the second is SCOTLAND: The
Story of a Nation by Mangus MacNusson.

.

Both are excellent books. Sir Fitzroy's name is spelled, BTW, Maclean (of Dunconnel).

[JSFMACLJR]

Myths? Where to begin?!
1. Everything must match.
2. Red garter flashes are for military use only.
3. "Mc" is Scottish; "Mac" is Irish. (or is that the other way around?)
4. Black sporran/black shoes
5. Trews are lowland garb.

Cheers,
Sandford

[muirkirkca]

I have been told a number of times that if your name prefix is "Mc" it is Irish and if "Mac" it is Scottish. Must have been a lot of settlers from Argyllshire in SW Ontario who didn't know their true ethnicity.

[Swampthing]

See this thread:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...680/index.html

Also, that kilts are in any way Irish. (or English, Norse, or Welsh for that matter.)

[JSFMACLJR]

I have been told a number of times that if your name prefix is "Mc" it is Irish and if "Mac" it is Scottish. Must have been a lot of settlers from Argyllshire in SW Ontario who didn't know their true ethnicity.

"Mc" and "Mac"...it doesn't matter. Really. My MacLean forebearers left the Isle of Mull, spelling their surname McLean. Two generations later it was MacLean.

The spelling issue is a total fabrication, as far as denoting Scottish heritage. The use is interchangeable, due to notoriously poor spelling abilities! As to how the Irish do it, I just don't know.