Today, we celebrate Scottish heritage by wearing or displaying our clan’s tartans. 3.6 percent of the American population report having Scottish ancestry. There are four geographical areas that had different tartans to identify fellow kinsmen from a distance. The four areas were known as the Borderlands, Lowland, Highlands and Islands. Clans and their tartan dress emerged in the 11th century but took hold in the 14th century. Each clan developed loyalty in return for protection and peace. In 1746 after the Jacobite Riots to restore the Stuart monarchy, Britain forbid the wearing of Scottish plaids From 1746 to 1782.
In early years tartans were wrapped or draped around the body. They wore a tunic under the wrapped cloth. The wrapped plaid evolved into today’s kilt garment. Traditionally, nothing is worn under the plaid or kilt. This is described as going military. When we visited Scotland, On a windy day, our whole bus was expose to the hairy buttock of an older scot.
Many Scotsmen proudly wear kilts in their clan’s plaid for dress and even daily wear. When our bus broke down in the Highlands, our mechanic arrived in a brown work kilt and stepped into a work suit to work under the bus.
Many young people wear kilts to sports events and gatherings. I have seen tee shirts, boots and tennis shoes paired with a tartan or kilt.
My family is the Turnbull clan. It was found in the borderland between England and Scotland. They were known to raid sheep and cattle over the border.
Learning about your family history is a good source of adding to your personal history.
***. poem
He saved the King
Willian was laboring in a lowland glen.
He stopped to watch Robert Bruce ride by with his friends.
The Prince’s tartan flowed in the breeze.
Enraging a young bull grazing in the trees.
William raced between the man and beast.
He grabbed the horns, crack, the bulls life ceased.
The young prince’s life had been saved.
He knighted William for coming to his aid.
Three bloody bulls are on the crest.
The motto ”He saved the king” says the rest.
Carol Farnsworth
carolaspot@aol.com
copyright 4-6-26
traveling up and down the blind highway 