Tartans
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:24 am
First let me wish everyone a very Happy 2011.
The year so far has been every bit as hectic as last year and I regret that I have not had as much time to participate in the forum as I would like.
I have however picked up on a few comments on tartans and feel that it is very important to set the record straight.
As Jill hints, much complete and utter nonsense has been written about our clan. Many popularist tartan books simply rehash old mistakes and care not in the least about the accuracy or otherwise of what is written. Various authors will suggest that we are septs of the Campbells, MacDougalls or the Stewarts of Appin. This is nonsense. We are an independent clan and predate all three by many hundreds of years.
Whilst in theory you can wear any tartan you like, and choose it to match your eyes, hair or flower bed, anyone who is looking to wear a tartan to reflect their clan allegiance should be more careful.
There has been a myth that the Livingston tartan correctly belongs to the Lowland family. Lowlanders did not wear tartan. Furthermore there is, to my mind, fairly conclusive evidence that suggests that the Lowland family are simply descendents of the Highland Livingstone/MacLeas.
Any Livingstone or MacLea, of whatever spelling, should wear one of our tartans shown here http://www.clanlivingstone.info/Tartans.htm. To wear any other such as a Stewart of Appin is incorrect and simply serves to perpetuate the errors of the misinformed.
Clearly, if you have a much loved kilt that is not strictly correct then I am not suggesting that it is burnt or discarded. However, if buying new it is as well to get it right.
The year so far has been every bit as hectic as last year and I regret that I have not had as much time to participate in the forum as I would like.
I have however picked up on a few comments on tartans and feel that it is very important to set the record straight.
As Jill hints, much complete and utter nonsense has been written about our clan. Many popularist tartan books simply rehash old mistakes and care not in the least about the accuracy or otherwise of what is written. Various authors will suggest that we are septs of the Campbells, MacDougalls or the Stewarts of Appin. This is nonsense. We are an independent clan and predate all three by many hundreds of years.
Whilst in theory you can wear any tartan you like, and choose it to match your eyes, hair or flower bed, anyone who is looking to wear a tartan to reflect their clan allegiance should be more careful.
There has been a myth that the Livingston tartan correctly belongs to the Lowland family. Lowlanders did not wear tartan. Furthermore there is, to my mind, fairly conclusive evidence that suggests that the Lowland family are simply descendents of the Highland Livingstone/MacLeas.
Any Livingstone or MacLea, of whatever spelling, should wear one of our tartans shown here http://www.clanlivingstone.info/Tartans.htm. To wear any other such as a Stewart of Appin is incorrect and simply serves to perpetuate the errors of the misinformed.
Clearly, if you have a much loved kilt that is not strictly correct then I am not suggesting that it is burnt or discarded. However, if buying new it is as well to get it right.