Ladies Burns Tartan

[B. Somm]

Hello Rabble!

I've been waiting to share this with you all since January, but I had to wait until I upgraded my computer system. Now that I'm up to date with current technology, here's what I wanted to share....


My Great Aunt Mary ("Grandma" to me, as she was my actual grandmother's sister) passed away back in January. While I was still at her house, I passed her bedroom where my cousins were sorting through some of her things. I happened to notice a "skirt" hanging on the bedroom door with a very familiar pattern to it. Grandma had told me a long time ago that we had some "Scots" in us from the Burns side, so I was already familiar with the tartan from my own research after I had gotten involved in Middle Ages re-enactment. (Found out while at Grandma's this past January, that we're actually descended from Robert Burns the Poet!)

Anyway, after stopping dead in my tracks, I held up the "skirt" and stared at it. I then turned to my cousins, who immediately thought I was going to ask if I could have it (which I was...eventually!) and told me that I couldn't have it and that it was going to be "archived". I said, "No, no, that's not what I was going to ask. I wanted to know if this is what I think it is...the Burns tartan?" I was then told that yes, it was indeed the Burns tartan and that it was a ladies kilt that was sent to my Grandma by a relative who had bought it for her on a trip to Scotland years ago.

I never knew that Grandma had an actual Burns tartan kilt and it gave me goose bumps to discover it hanging on the doorknob! The first thing I thought of was, "I gotta get some pictures of this and post it on Xmarks!" I have no idea how my uncle is going to "archive it", but I made sure that he knew that if for whatever reason it couldn't be "archived", that I would love to have it! So, here are the pictures....and I didn't forget the "pleat" shot!

B. Somm

Burns Tartan Ladies Kilt (front). Made in Scotland for my Great Aunt Mary:



Back:



Pleat Shot:



Burns tartan pattern up close w/ obligatory kilt pin:

[Paul Henry]

Very pleased that are are happy with your skirt, I don't want to be a doom monger though in telling you that Robert Burns wouldn't have worn a kilt, and very, very unlikely to have had a tartan, in fact the Burns check is dated around 1959, so relaly very modern
have a look here for more details about it http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...s.aspx?ref=449
Of course the tartan is very recognizable and always brings to mind the poet, I even used the tartan in covering a protective box for a book.

[Big Mikey]

That is a nice heirloom. It's too bad someone wants to "archive" it, it really should be worn and I think it would be a great way to honour your "Grandma".

[JolyStNicholas]

That's a great find. And a wonderful way to remember and honor "Granny"
as we call them here in this part of the south.

[B. Somm]

Very pleased that are are happy with your skirt, I don't want to be a doom monger though in telling you that Robert Burns wouldn't have worn a kilt, and very, very unlikely to have had a tartan, in fact the Burns check is dated around 1959, so relaly very modern
have a look here for more details about it http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...s.aspx?ref=449
Of course the tartan is very recognizable and always brings to mind the poet, I even used the tartan in covering a protective box for a book.

Either way, it's still nice to know that I have some cool family history thanks to my Grandma's years of research. It's also nice to know that someone took the time to create a "Burns Tartan", even if it is a more "recent" design. One of these days I'd like to look further into my family history and see if I have any other clan relations. My uncle said that I could have Grandma's genealogy book once it's been copied for posterity.

At least for now, I'm just glad that there is family "tartan" that I can claim and wear with pride if I decide to invest in a lady's kilt!

Thanks for the link btw!

B.

[Dr Mac]

Happy for you, in your discovery!

[Wolfhawk]

Genealogy is a wonderful hobby and I have enjoyed it for many years.