Kilt Etiquette

[creagdhubh]

Todd? Hmmm... a rather large wee dram a bit early in the day?

Hahaha! Sorry, David. A rather large dram indeed. I think I mistook your avatar for Todd's (cajunscot) and didn't bother looking at the name associated with it. One of those, "rapid replies" I suppose.

Cheers mate,

[flairball]

[QUOTE=Jock Scot;1148682]

Where what you like. A kilt is just a garment, and tartan just a design. Besides, this is a free country. There are no tartan police, and there is even a sticky to let everyone know this. There are no more clans, only clan societies. No one is going to recognize the tartan and ask you if you're their long lost cousin, or expect an explanation. Is it nice to have a kilt to which you have a connection? Yes. Is it nessecary? No.

You should, however, be prepared for lots of questions like;


Valid points of view from your angle and no doubt for many non Scots points of view too. However on some points, some Scots will differ and differ rather strongly. ---------------Just so you know.

Jock, sorry for the slow reply, and for acknowledging the validity of my view. I appreciate, and understand that the sentiment surrounding kilts and tartan in Scotland is quite different, and thank you for bringing this up.

To clarify, my response to the OP was based very much on is being in California. I assumed the OP to not be Scottish, assuming that if he were her not be asking this question here, and would have a family member or friend to steer him right.

I proudly wear MacKintosh, and am glad I have a connection. It makes the tartan that much more special, and I often wear it in scarf or necktie form. Should I ever see another in MacKintosh, though I doubt I'd readily recognize it, I'd certainly inquire curiously. However, should there be no "legitimate" reason to be in MacKintosh I'd not feel slighted in the least, and probably congratulate him for having good taste in tartan.

There is quite simply no harm done to anyone, other than maybe insulting their sensitivities by wearing the tartan of another. Black cats, walking under ladders, breaking mirrors, and stepping on sidewalk cracks are to be avoided, though, as they do produce tangible results.

[flairball]

Hahaha! Sorry, David. A rather large dram indeed. I think I mistook your avatar for Todd's (cajunscot) and didn't bother looking at the name associated with it. One of those, "rapid replies" I suppose.

Cheers mate,

Ah. Yes. Thanks for the reminder. Time for a dram. Or two.

[tundramanq]

Warm today, went with the Plymouth Gin and Tonic. Saving the Highland Park for cooler times.
Mixed ancestry does drag me to both ends of the isles.

[EagleJCS]

Say I was at a Highland games here in the US and I was walking about, if I saw a chap wearing a kilt of Macpherson tartan and I didn't know him, there is no doubt in my mind that I would make my approach and introduce myself. I don't think everybody necessarily does this, but I am quite an enthusiastic and active member of the Clan Macpherson Association...always on the lookout for fellow 'cousins!'

I've done that very thing. A few years back, I was at a Games and found I was walking a ways behind a gentleman wearing the Scott Red (a rare thing at the Games I get to, as I'm the only registered member of the Clan Scott Society in Kentucky). I hustled up and introduced myself. It turned out he and his son are Scotts - through the Scotts of Harden, he was a newly-commissioned Scottish armiger (the month before), it was his first time at a Games in the States, and he was a Baron to boot (the Baron of Cowdenknowes)! I not only had a very pleasant conversation with the Baron and his son, they introduced me to Lord Lyon (then Robin Blair), who was at the Games to discuss heraldry and to present a couple of grants of arms to members of the Society of Scottish Armigers.

SCOTT John C and Robin Blair, Lord Lyon.jpg

I was encouraged to continue researching my own family tree and petition Lord Lyon for a Grant of Arms myself once I could determine which ancestor was eligible and could gather enough documentation.

Just goes to show you never know what wearing a tartan might do for you!

[creagdhubh]

I've done that very thing. A few years back, I was at a Games and found I was walking a ways behind a gentleman wearing the Scott Red (a rare thing at the Games I get to, as I'm the only registered member of the Clan Scott Society in Kentucky). I hustled up and introduced myself. It turned out he and his son are Scotts - through the Scotts of Harden, he was a newly-commissioned Scottish armiger (the month before), it was his first time at a Games in the States, and he was a Baron to boot (the Baron of Cowdenknowes)! I not only had a very pleasant conversation with the Baron and his son, they introduced me to Lord Lyon (then Robin Blair), who was at the Games to discuss heraldry and to present a couple of grants of arms to members of the Society of Scottish Armigers.

SCOTT John C and Robin Blair, Lord Lyon.jpg

I was encouraged to continue researching my own family tree and petition Lord Lyon for a Grant of Arms myself once I could determine which ancestor was eligible and could gather enough documentation.

Just goes to show you never know what wearing a tartan might do for you!

Well done, John!!!