Tartan authority - what can I wear?

**Tobus** · 22nd February 13, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by Shedlock2000

Consequently, we wear a Roxburgh Red (or not any better, hunting green) District tartan, which is a sort of peel-your-face-off ORANGE and GREEN. Which is great, if you want Chris Hadfield to spot you from the ISS; not so good if you just want to look cool.

Why the aversion to these colours? What's not cool about them?

As one whose clan tartan is of the blue/green variety, it can actually get pretty boring. I sometimes wish my clan tartan were of the brighter red/green style. I guess we are just seeing it from opposite ends of the spectrum, in a "grass is greener on the other side of the fence" type mentality.

But I think a good bit of advice is to simply embrace the tartan with which you most closely identify, and don't be so particular on the colours. Tartan has way more meaning than the hues it contains.

**TheOfficialBren** · 22nd February 13, 09:50 AM

***, Tobus. Much more meaning indeed.

**Shedlock2000** · 22nd February 13, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Pleater

You can't be that rare - there were Firths living only a few doors from me where I grew up in Yorkshire - not that that carries any weight statistically of course....

Well, When I looked into this, back when I was 16, it seemed that there were about 350,000 of us - not that rare at all, but certainly not common for a surname. There were more in America than remained in the UK. Strangely, there is one other Firth in my village back home, and when I moved here to Lethbridge, there was and still is, a family of 8. When I moved to Canada and applied for my SIN, the lady told me that there were 8 Steven/Stephen Firths in Canada; all of whom were born in 1975; all of whom were born in September in 1975; and all of whom were born between the 6-28th of September - 2 of whom were born on my birthday, the 27th!! Weird! I only have her word for it though, I wasn't allowed to see the screen.

There is, of course, the X Marks tartan - but specifically weathered and worsted - do you mean made in wool? - the Black Watch weathered is quite attractive, and that is a 'universal' one with military connotations which might do nicely.

I have thought about this tartan - I actually quite like it!

Are you sure that Firth means tributary? Thinking of the Firth of Forth - it is an estuary. Fjord means something similar but with cliffs rather than mudflats.

I am not sure - I can only just remember looking it up. I think I discovered this from some research whilst at University last time. I seem to recall that the further north you travel, the smaller boy of water it refers too. In the Isles it is often used to refer to small inlets - where i guess i got 'tributary' from. But you are certainly right, further south the name does seem to refer to an estuary rather than a tributary..... Are there no Gaelic speakers here? I will bug my friend and Latin Prof - he speaks Irish and Scottish Gaelic, I wonder if he will know.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Shedlock2000** · 22nd February 13, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by neloon

What about some general tartan such as Caledonia, Flower of Scotland, Scottish National ...? Maybe have a look in
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/

I was looking for the sort of thing that didn't have allegiances - Now I have some names, I'll get right on that! Thanks Alan!

Alan

**Shedlock2000** · 22nd February 13, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

Greetings from another Lethbridgian (born & raised).

YEY!!!!

Each to their own. I rather like Alberta's official tartan, and the Maple Leaf, while at first I didn't like it, grew on me. Now I wear it with pride! It looks quite nice in real life -- much better than images suggest. Plus, different mills produce slightly different variations of it, giving it a different appearance altogether, depending on the supplier.

As I'm sure you're aware, there is also a City of Lethbridge tartan, but it's still in the green & gold gamut.

I did not know this!! I don't think it is too bad at all!.... hmmm.

That's why I also like the U of A tartan (my alma mater). Other alternatives might be to design your own and have it woven - something you can do at Scotsweb.

I wonder if I could approach someone to design a U of L tartan (my current university) - How does one go about such a thing do you think? I'm sure someone on here will know!

- Properly off topic, but how DID you find yourself in Japan?

**Shedlock2000** · 22nd February 13, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by neloon

Just for accuracy, "firth" is not Gaelic (it is from the root of fjord). The Gaelic for estuary would be "caol" (=narrow(s)) or, more usually, "linne" (=pool e.g.Linne Chluaidh =Firth of Clyde) or, quite often, just "loch".
Alan

Thats fantastic information, Alan - so, just to be clear, is 'firth' a Gaelic word at all, or is it just pro to-germanic slightly warped by the years? If this is the case, how did it end up so prevalent in Scotland - One would have expected a greater existance of it in England (where i seem to recall 'firth' in the Old English had the meaning of 'safety' and 'protection'). Any Guesses?

**Shedlock2000** · 22nd February 13, 10:43 AM

Oooo, Matt - That last image is a weathered version, I think - right? I like it a lot.

Yes, the tartan I wear, is a bit brighter than your first image.....IMG_4442.jpg

Though, Photographs really do amp up the green, and tone down the orange - which in real life stuns cattle.

I'll PM you about weaving costs.....

**Shedlock2000** · 22nd February 13, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

My Lockharts hailed from Lanark and Carnwarth, which is not far from Roxburgh. If you want to wear our tartan, go ahead, with our blessing.

That's a lovely offer! Thanks (fantastic Tartan too!!)

**neloon** · 22nd February 13, 10:53 AM

Shedlock,
As I understand it, firth appeared first in Scotland from Norse and then passed into Old English. It may be related to "frith" which I think did mean calm/safety etc. Both words go away back into early Norse and have nothing to do with Gaelic.
Alan

**Shedlock2000** · 22nd February 13, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

Why the aversion to these colours? What's not cool about them?

As one whose clan tartan is of the blue/green variety, it can actually get pretty boring. I sometimes wish my clan tartan were of the brighter red/green style. I guess we are just seeing it from opposite ends of the spectrum, in a "grass is greener on the other side of the fence" type mentality.

But I think a good bit of advice is to simply embrace the tartan with which you most closely identify, and don't be so particular on the colours. Tartan has way more meaning than the hues it contains.

Sage words, Sir; Sage words.