Explaining a tartan

[TheOfficialBren]

I hear you, Alan. When I'm not in the mood to explain things, I don't wear my Clan Chattan tartan. People just don't get it. I'll wear my Mackintosh and it's easy to answer questions if I get any.

Yet another reason that I rarely wear my Holyrood kilt these days. Sticking with family tartans is one way of curtailing pesky questions that could easily head toward a not - so - amusing punchline. YMMV.

[Alan H]

Alan,
What if you just answered "Capercaillie" when asked what clan your tartan represented? If you have time, you could tell them the whole story, but if not, let it go at that and walk on. I suspect most will just think it is their ignorance of an obscure clan that is the source of their confusion.

See you soon

Brooke

This is probably the best answer. Just name it, smile happily because again, it's not like I'm angry at these people, they're perfectly nice people....and keep going. If I have the requisite five minutes, then further explanation is great.

It must also be said that the Luminous Joan gets a little bit annoyed at all the attention I get when kilted. It's not like she's steaming mad or anything, just a mite bit touchy about it. So prolonging discussions, usually with women, about the issue is not adviseable.

[Nathan]

I never have this problem. When they ask me if it's my clan tartan, I say, "yes it is". Because, it is.

[piperdbh]

What if you typed up all the information any sane person would need about the Capercaillie tartan, including its website, print it on some business cards, and hand them out to any interested parties. Tell them you have laryngitis.

[rondo]

Alan,
When asked if the kilt I'm wearing is my clan tartan I simply answer "yes". This usually satisfies the questioner. If they ask what clan, then I might go into more detail or find a polite excuse to drift away [Ooh, look sparkly keys].
Rondo

[Tony]

I want a McSqueaky kilt!

I had a similar problem wearing a Dress Gordon. "But your name's not Gordon!"

[Hiburnicus]

Hahahaha, Mclowlife that is the funniest thing Ive read in awhile.

When Im wearing my Black Watch tartan, Ive been asked if its the family pattern, and I once pulled the guy's leg a bit by saying it belongs to the Watch clan, and point out Im wearing a wristwatch in their honor as well.

Ok, maybe its not THAT funny...but I have a dry sense of humor like Ben Stern.

[jhockin]

Alan:
not to re-start a "jonesing" for you, but there IS a MacNaughton Hunting tartan:
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=5804



available here, in heavy weight kilt cloth:

http://www.tartankilts.com/acatalog/...cnaughton.html

[Geoff Withnell]

When I really have fun is when I'm wearing the R'lyeh tartan. "What clan tartan is that?" "It's not a clan tartan, it's a district tartan." "Oh, what district?" "R'lyeh" "Where's that?" "It's a fictional city at the bottom of the Pacific, but it may be coming back"
Usually followed by the questioner realizing they needed to be somewhere else, quickly.

[Bill aka Mole]

Being that I have four tartans that I might wear (US Navy-Edzell, National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, Black Watch & Firefighters Memorial), my answer is to explain that you don't have to be Scottish to wear a kilt and that the tartan has meaning for me based upon my life so far. I have only had one person ask about the colors of a tartan and that was on the US Navy kilt. Only had one person come across as a kilt cop when they asked if I was wearing my kilt in true Scottish fashion and my answer was that I was pretty sure that I was as the aprons were in front. Majority of the non-Highland games crowd either points and thinks that it is odd to see a kilted man or flee when I enter the restroom.