Clan regalia with National tartan

[Troy]

OK, I'm expecting a lot of different opinions on this one...

I own a kilt in Cornish National tartan (currently my only kilt) and wear it proudly as a reference to my Cornish ancestry on my paternal side.

My mother was a Rutherford, which means (according to various sources) that I have a connection to Clan Home.

While I understand that I am free to do whatever I like as far as tartans etc. are concerned, would it be considered a major faux pas to wear Clan Home regalia (e.g. badge, crest on sporran flap etc.) while wearing the Cornish National tartan. I really like the idea of acknowledging both sides of my ancestry, but I don't want to cause offence.

Regards,

Troy

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Troy, congratulations on trying to acknowledge both sides of your heritage!

Now, methinks that you are analyzing this too much. First, your Cornish national kilt is a regional/district/national tartan, so there should not be any problem with pairing it with whatever accessories you would want, even if from another country.

From the other side, you are entitled to wear the Clan Home badge, crest, etc. based on your heritage. Since you can wear whatever tartan you want (just see the posts on this board), there should be no issue from that point of view either.

Finally, unless you live in an area with Clan Home police or militant Cornish supporters, I would not worry about it. I have run into very few people that can look past the kilt, let alone recognize any accessories I might be wearing.

[Moosehead]

Not to throw a "monkey wrench" in here, but unless you are actually a member of Clan Home, you shouldn't wear their distinguishing badges. If you are, have at 'er. Wear them all.

[macwilkin]

OK, I'm expecting a lot of different opinions on this one...

I own a kilt in Cornish National tartan (currently my only kilt) and wear it proudly as a reference to my Cornish ancestry on my paternal side.

My mother was a Rutherford, which means (according to various sources) that I have a connection to Clan Home.

While I understand that I am free to do whatever I like as far as tartans etc. are concerned, would it be considered a major faux pas to wear Clan Home regalia (e.g. badge, crest on sporran flap etc.) while wearing the Cornish National tartan. I really like the idea of acknowledging both sides of my ancestry, but I don't want to cause offence.

Regards,

Troy

Not especially. I know several folks who wear a district tartan as a second alternative to their clan tartan, whilst still wearing the badge of their clan's chief. I know when I order my next kilt, it will be in the Iowa state tartan, but I will still wear my Cumming badge on my bonnet, since my Cumming ancestors moved to Iowa after immigrating from Scotland.

Great choice on the Cornish National tartan, btw. I love the St. Piran's Cross flag, which the tartan incorporates into its design. I've only met one person of Cornish descent, and he was from Cornwall, naturally! :mrgreen:

By the way, the Rutherfords and the Homes were Borders families. Many a border family has adopted kilts and tartan, although the original border reivers did not wear them -- I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, just that it's relatively new for Borderers and Lowlanders to wear the kilt.

You might wish to check out George Macdonald Fraser's excellent work on the Borders, the "wild west" of Scotland, "The Steel Bonnets".

Cheers,

Todd

[michael steinrok]

OK, I'm expecting a lot of different opinions on this one...

I own a kilt in Cornish National tartan (currently my only kilt) and wear it proudly as a reference to my Cornish ancestry on my paternal side.

My mother was a Rutherford, which means (according to various sources) that I have a connection to Clan Home.

While I understand that I am free to do whatever I like as far as tartans etc. are concerned, would it be considered a major faux pas to wear Clan Home regalia (e.g. badge, crest on sporran flap etc.) while wearing the Cornish National tartan. I really like the idea of acknowledging both sides of my ancestry, but I don't want to cause offence.

Regards,

Troy

I don't know if it is right or wrong but I mix and match sometimes. Honestly I don't really care.But then I suppose most people let me be because of my size

[Troy]

Not to throw a "monkey wrench" in here, but unless you are actually a member of Clan Home, you shouldn't wear their distinguishing badges. If you are, have at 'er. Wear them all.

Sorry, should have been more specific - the Rutherfords are a sept of Clan Home, therefore I'm entitled to wear their distinguishing emblems.

Regards,

Troy

[ronstew]

As I understand it, your clan comes from your father, not your mother.

Having looked at dicussions such as this for the past several months, I have come to the opinion that if you are wearing emblems of a clan whose chief has made decrees concerning those emblems, you should follow the wishes of the clan chief. Otherwise, you should do what seems right and respectful, and what looks good.

[Troy]

By the way, the Rutherfords and the Homes were Borders families. Many a border family has adopted kilts and tartan, although the original border reivers did not wear them -- I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, just that it's relatively new for Borderers and Lowlanders to wear the kilt.Todd

Even much newer for the Cornish! And anyway, I'm not generally a great fan of trews

You might wish to check out George Macdonald Fraser's excellent work on the Borders, the "wild west" of Scotland, "The Steel Bonnets".

Cheers,

Todd

Thanks for the feedback. I know a bit of the history of the Border Rievers, but I haven't checked out "The Steel Bonnets" - I must put it on my "to do" list.

The Rutherfords have been without an hereditary chief for some years now, so I guess the Clan crest is effectively redundant. There are a couple of manufacturers in the USA who make Rutherford badges, but they are almost prohibitively expensive. Quite a shame though, as the Clan motto is a doozie: "Nec sorte nec fato" (neither by chance nor fate).

Bottoms Up!

Troy

[Troy]

As I understand it, your clan comes from your father, not your mother.

Having looked at dicussions such as this for the past several months, I have come to the opinion that if you are wearing emblems of a clan whose chief has made decrees concerning those emblems, you should follow the wishes of the clan chief. Otherwise, you should do what seems right and respectful, and what looks good.

I thonk you're right, Ron, in saying that Clan 'membership' is traditionally regarded as being passed through the paternal line. Having said that, though, I have also heard that in these enlightened times it is acceptable to claim 'membership' via the maternal line, paticularly if one's father has no Clan affiliation.

I have also heard that wearing the badge of a particular Clan actually signifies your allegiance to that Clan, whether or not you actually have a blood-tie to it.

(Many people maintain, of course, that the same convention applies to tartans, but that subject has been covered in detail on this forum before)

I guess the best course of action to take would be to seek the advice of the Clan Chief before donning any of the Clan's distinguishing marks.

Cheers,

troy

[Riverkilt]

Don't much care for what the "rules" or tartan police say...or even how it was in the old days.

I honor my clans on my mother's side of the family because their blood (okay genes) is my blood, just as my father's clans are.

My next tank will be in the Scott tartan, my mother's middle name, her mother's maiden name, that came down through a lineage of men I'm proud of. A 4 great grandfather Scott was given land for his service in the War of 1812. My sister, a college professor, is writing a book about our grandmother Rose Emily Scott who was a South Dakota and Montana pioneer.

My maternal clans include the Scotts (yes I know they were border people), and Frasers. They also include Doyles from Ireland and Lewis' from Wales.

Funny how culture is. Here in Navajoland the Navajo clans are controled by the women, not the men....

I'm honoring both sides of my family. Wouldn't be here without both of them.

Ron