The 'Right' to wear a Tartan?

[Highwayman]

To begin, I'm mixed Polish-Irish right down the middle, pure heritage on both sides of the family. Theoretically, there's some O'Connor on the Irish side with a tartan out there I can't afford. However, a few months ago I was headed to the opening week of the Renn Faire in my black 5.11 kilt and my step-mother saw it. Rather than laugh at it like all my other relatives have, which is just fine as I'm a bit of a joker, she immediately asked if my father's had a tartan. Explaining we had none, she casually said 'Oh, Joanie's family had two, you can wear one of those.' Joanie was my step-mother's recently deceased mother, and let me just say she was a firecracker of an old bird I miss dearly. This step-family is a simply wonderful group I'm very close to, my father and I stand out being only legally related but are on extremely good terms compared to my blood relatives even. Her family was originally the Christies, as in the Christie Medical Centers, and they are known for a very colorful scatter-patterned tartan. They also had Farquharson ties, and wore them interchangably. Farq (I have to copy and paste that name every time I type it...) is a rather common tartan, and low and behold USA Kilts has a casual kilt in that pattern which I can afford after my job hunt pays off.

I did a Facebook post featuring the Christie, Farq, Masonic (I'm a Mason but don't like the pattern), and American Heritage tartan (I just love it) asking which one was most appealing to casual onlookers. Surprisingly, I had some older gentlemen asking about my heritage, and they strongly encouraged me to only pursue the Masonic pattern because my bloodlines weren't directly Farq or Christie. While I know there are Universal Tartans, I'm in a point in my life where I'm seeking ties to the past to figure out who I am as I get my career started. I admire the tartan system because it's pride in heritage and identity. Is the blessing and encouragement of the family enough to warrant a non-relative wearing the colors? Does it all not matter, seeing as the tartan system isn't that ancient truly? Should I wait until I can afford something rarer that I'm directly allowed to wear and take pride in that?

[Father Bill]

Hi! You might want to peruse this recent thread: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...hildren-77819/

Bill+

[S Mitchell]

My stepson, who has his mother's last name, isn't inclined to wear a kilt. But if he chose to wear the Mitchell tartan, in any fashion, I'd be proud to see it.

Family is so much more than bloodlines.

[Father Bill]

Family is also much more than male bloodlines alone!

[The farqcom]

Hello, as President of Clan Farquharson USA, I would say "welcome brother"! Wear either the Christie or Farquharson tartan.

Jim McKeehan

[CDNSushi]

Does it all not matter, seeing as the tartan system isn't that ancient truly? Should I wait until I can afford something rarer that I'm directly allowed to wear and take pride in that?

That line alone could have saved you a whole two paragraphs of typing. Find a tartan you like. Wear it. If there's a family connection, all the better. If not, don't fret about it. There is no "allowed to wear" in spite of what some might say or think.

If anyone asks, tell them: "there's a family connection" and leave it at that. I wouldn't feel any compulsion to get into minutiae of bloodlines with strangers. I suppose that's rather an American cultural thing -- to open up to people and discuss things that in other countries and cultures, would be reserved only for close friends.

[kiltedtom]

Highwayman,

I agree with those here who have already replied to your question. Family is so much more than bloodties, especially direct bloodties. My father's side is Welsh (and several other nationalities). My mother's side is German. By marriage I have Ramseys as cousins, and my great aunt married a MacKenzie, so I am sort of related to them by marriage and blood. Recently I discovered that my great grandmother, on Mom's dad's side, was a Graham. So putting all of them together, I do not know what tartan I would be "entitled" to wear. And it really does not matter. I like all of the tartans. So pick which ever you want, or pick all of them. Enjoy.

By the way, Father Bill, I read the thread you suggested about family relationships and enjoyed it greatly. I especially liked Anne the Pleater's observation how social norms have switched for the better. In my generation there are several "adopted" cousins. No body thinks any differently of them. And I have to stop to remember that they are adoped. Also, if you saw my cousins, they look so much like their parents it is scarry. LOL My mother, on the other hand, born in 1934, had a favorite cousin several years older who turned out to be, mom's oldest sister. Both were adults when they discovered this little "family secret." Gotta wonder why people ever were so worried about who was related to whom.

Hope you all have a good Halloween to kick off the holiday season.

Tom

[duke_19_62]

Hello, as President of Clan Farquharson USA, I would say "welcome brother"! Wear...Farquharson tartan.

Jim McKeehan

I think that settles the Farquharson question.

I have several tartans I wear. First (the one in my avatar) is Macneil of Barra.. As a twenty-year veteran, I wear the US Army tartan, and as a 30-year Freemason and Past Master, I wear the Freemason Universal Tartan. I refer to the Army and Freemasonry as my "other" clans. I also have the Ulster District Irish tartan (the Irish O'Neill clan came from there) which is also a good red and green for the winter holiday season. I also have a couple of what are called fashion tartans, "Heritage of Scotland" and "Pink Stewart" which I wear in support of Breast Cancer awareness. My wife has been a survivor of that disease since 2004. I also have 2 solid color Utility kilts from Amerikilt, but those are off-topic for this thread.

I also agree with Father Bill and S. Mitchell: "Family is also much more than male bloodlines"

[Mel1721L]

Family is also much more than male bloodlines alone!

My father was a mean, nasty sob, I much prefer my mothers family which have the Celtic connection rather than my fathers, who I never even met.

[Steve Ashton]

There are only three rules that govern what Tartan you can, or should wear.

1) Pick a Tartan that has some significance to you. You may carry the name, you may come from or live in that place, or you may simple like the colors.

2) Know what Tartan you are wearing. You will be asked.

3) Wear it with pride.


If anyone tells you that you can only wear your "Clan" Tartan or that you cannot wear a particular Tartan, then I'm afraid that I must say;

Yes, there are Tartan snobs out there but fortunately there are no Tartan cops.



You are a member of this forum. You are fully authorized and encouraged to wear the X Marks Tartan. To many members of this community the X Marks Tartan IS their Tartan.
And if anyone questions that, tell them that you have the Tartan owner's written permission to do so.