the Tartan
The Tartan
GENERAL:
Colours:
ModernThe present-day tartan with dark but bright colours.
A misleading name. It only means the colours are lighter.
Fergusons from this area (just north of Stirling) have their own colours.
This used to be worn by the ladies of the Clan. The colours are brighter and are a variation of the clan-pattern, and there is a white background. Nowadays lightweight material tends to be called dress-tartan but this is not correct. A clan that doesn't have a dress-tartan wears his own colours and the material or the time of day is of no importance.
Especially for sports en hunting. The colours are adjusted to nature: no bright hues.
Mourning
Speaks for itself . The colours are generally black-white.
Chiefs
Only worn by the Chiefs of Name.
Royal
Exclusive for the Royal Family : Balmoral.
to be well dressed during the night....
Eric Ferguson , member of "De Nederlandse Clan Ferguson"
In Gaelic the word: "breacan" was used, meaning chequered or check-like arrangement. The word "Tartan" comes into being in the 15th and 16th century. Probably originating from French: "tiretaine", meaning a colourful, woollen material.
Towards the end of the 16th century the Highlanders used "breacan feile". This 4,5 x 1,5 m cloth was donned while lying on the ground. The lower part became the "Kilt". The top part was thrown over the left shoulder and fastened with a brooch. This way the arms could move freely. When the whether was cold the plaid could be serve as a cape. The "belted plaid (breacan feile)" was the everyday clothing. De chiefs, chieftains and noblemen wore the "triubhas" (close-fitting trousars).
Before the battle the "belted plaid" was taken off, which annoyed the Lowlanders who called the Highlanders "naked savages". Not rightly so as they tied their undershirt between their legs.
The "feile beag" of "philibag", originated from this kilt cloth and was plaited and sown out of 6 yards (+- 5,5 m) of material; this is the modern de "Highland Dress". It is worn with a waistcoat and a jacket with horn buttons, "drogs", open shoes for the water to seep away easily, a simple knitted knickers(!) and a blue bonnet with the Crest. With men the kilt reaches till halfway the knee and with women just over the knee.
As an extra, women wear a "tonnag": a small square of tartan over the right shoulder and fastened with a badge-brooch.
Also belonging to teh Kilt are the "sporran", a leather bag, the "balmoral", a baret and the "skean dhu", a knife worn in the right stocking.
The Lowlanders didn't wear a kilt; it being uncivilised. It is not clear whether there were clan tartans in the 16th century although there were district tartans.
When the Scottish Parliament was taken over by the English the tartan became a symbol of protest and after the Battle of Colloden (1746) the wearing of tartan was forbidden altogether. In 1782 this Act was withdrawn but it was not until 1822, when Sir Walter Scott persuaded George IV to visit Scotland as the first king since Charles II, that a revival began which was encouraged even more when Victoria and Albert had their own tartan designed.
