Explaining a tartan

[Alan H]

Last night I wore my Capercaillie tartan kilt to a San Jose Chamber Orchestra concert and got lots of positive feedback, as always. However, as usual, people want to know what tartan it is. Of course, they are polite, but confused and a bit disappointed when I tell them... "no, it's not my clan tartan, it's a tartan designed to raise money for habitat preservation in the UK." Only about one person in a hundred "gets" that or appreciates it.

If I have five minutes or more available to talk to the person, then I absolutely don't mind having a more in depth discussion about it, but honestly...I'm out with the Luminous Joan, to see a concert. I don't want to go on and on about tartan history. Even telling people that ... "there is no MacNaughton, hunting tartan so I got this instead" requires explaining what a hunting tartan is. Of course, at least three quarters of the people who ask are nice ladies who are just dying to tell me about their tartan skirt in Black Watch, you know? They don't REALLY care, though they're nice people. It's not like I'm "angry" with these folks, eh?

Honestly, I'm about to give up and just tell people that it's the MacNaughton, hunting tartan and let it go at that when I'm short on time. Not one person in a thousand will know or care, otherwise.

Thoughts?

[Father Bill]

Did you ever hunt in it, Mr. McNaughton?

[usonian]

The first time you do that, of course, you'll find yourself talking to a self appointed member of the kilt police who will delight in telling you that there's is no such thing as the MacNaughton, Hunting tartan.

[Sir William]

Last night I wore my Capercaillie tartan kilt to a San Jose Chamber Orchestra concert and got lots of positive feedback, as always. However, as usual, people want to know what tartan it is. Of course, they are polite, but confused and a bit disappointed when I tell them... "no, it's not my clan tartan, it's a tartan designed to raise money for habitat preservation in the UK." Only about one person in a hundred "gets" that or appreciates it.

If I have five minutes or more available to talk to the person, then I absolutely don't mind having a more in depth discussion about it, but honestly...I'm out with the Luminous Joan, to see a concert. I don't want to go on and on about tartan history. Even telling people that ... "there is no MacNaughton, hunting tartan so I got this instead" requires explaining what a hunting tartan is. Of course, at least three quarters of the people who ask are nice ladies who are just dying to tell me about their tartan skirt in Black Watch, you know? They don't REALLY care, though they're nice people. It's not like I'm "angry" with these folks, eh?

Honestly, I'm about to give up and just tell people that it's the MacNaughton, hunting tartan and let it go at that when I'm short on time. Not one person in a thousand will know or care, otherwise.

Thoughts?

I have several non-clan affiliated tartan kilts that I wear and I also get the puzzled looks when I say it's not a clan tartan. I just take the opportunity to briefly explain that there are lots of tartans and while many are associated with a clan, there are others for an area/district, business or organization, etc. Most people pick up on that quick enough so I don't have to go into more detail.

[Sir William]

The first time you do that, of course, you'll find yourself talking to a self appointed member of the kilt police who will delight in telling you that there's is no such thing as the MacNaughton, Hunting tartan.

My experience has been while wearing a generic tartan that isn't associated with anything while kitted out in 18th century garb as an Appin Stewart for living history presentations. I once had someone from the Scottish Tartan Museum (yes, one of Matt's people) look at my various and mixed tartans, refer to several of his books and then back at me before declaring he couldn't figure out what tartan I was wearing. I'm not sure if he was relieved or disappointed to discover that I wasn't wearing a "recognized" tartan.

However, almost invariably I will get some "expert" who insists I should be wearing a the "clan" tartan since "that is what they wore at Culloden." These people are just too much trouble to talk to.

[Alan H]

The first time you do that, of course, you'll find yourself talking to a self appointed member of the kilt police who will delight in telling you that there's is no such thing as the MacNaughton, Hunting tartan.

EXACTLY! sheesh.

[Highlander31]

....However, almost invariably I will get some "expert" who insists I should be wearing a the "clan" tartan since "that is what they wore at Culloden." These people are just too much trouble to talk to.

I've had a few like that. My first reaction to those types is to smile and say I'm late and to thank them for saying hello. However, on more than one occasion I have politely given the more obnoxious a destination they should visit,...and suggested they leave immediately.

[opositive]

cal it the mcfly tartan. when they walk up and ask to id it, you can say, "hello, mcfly."

[kiltedrennie]

I'm asked quite often which clan my Pride of Scotland tartan represents.

Most of the time I take 30 seconds to tell them there are thousands of clan and non-clan tartans and that this isn't a clan tartan. The last time I was asked the response was that she really liked the colors and asked if that's why I bought it. The closest to an "expert" I've run into was someone a bit confused thinking my MacQueen tartan was a Wallace with extra stripes.

[plaid preacher]

I'm asked quite often which clan my Pride of Scotland tartan represents.

Most of the time I take 30 seconds to tell them there are thousands of clan and non-clan tartans and that this isn't a clan tartan. The last time I was asked the response was that she really liked the colors and asked if that's why I bought it. The closest to an "expert" I've run into was someone a bit confused thinking my MacQueen tartan was a Wallace with extra stripes.

They're racing stripes. They make the kilt go faster!