A good summary until he gets onto tartan where there are a number of errors. Chief amongst these is the perpetuation of the idea that tartan was banned in 1746, it was not, Highland clothes for some men in the Highlands were. Similarly, the claim that the MacLean tartan dates to the 1500s (16th, not 15th century) is based on a fanciful interpretation of a Latin charter by the Allen (Sobieski) brothers in the c.1820.
Thanks for joining the conversation! The origin of tartan as being connected to a specific clan is an interesting topic. As you pointed out, there are a lot of misconceptions about what was outlawed and what wasn't after Culloden.
'That from and after the first day of August, One thousand, seven hundred and forty-seven, no man or boy within that part of Britain called Scotland, other than such as shall be employed as Officers and Soldiers in His Majesty's Forces, shall, on any pretext whatever, wear or put on the clothes commonly called Highland clothes (that is to say) the Plaid, Philabeg, or little Kilt, Trowse, Shoulder-belts, or any part whatever of what peculiarly belongs to the Highland Garb'. Tartan was banned for fencible Scots in 1746.
I think the corpus of Gàidhlig verse might challenge the idea that there was no difference between a clansman and say a feudal surf. What can be said is that the Celtic system of tanistry had to adapt to the Norman feudal model, particularly after the Lordship of the Isles became willing vassals to the Kings of Scots. But there is ample evidence that Gaels viewed themselves as the kin of their chiefs and that the chief was first among equals. To say that this was nothing different from surf and Lord is an overstatement I think. Ideas to change when you cross language lines.
Great thoughts! Thanks for chipping in. Something Dr. Pittock hit on and which I have heard from others, is that the language thing is tricky. Much of the Lowlands, when the clans that we recognize today were forming, were Gaelic. Even after Gaelic receded and certain areas adopted Scots, which ideas lingered behind pertaining to the kin-based society? John Bannerman has a fascinating paper on this, analyzing kin-based concepts expressed in the Scots language, many of which were carried straight over from Gaelic, which had ceased to be spoken. I can't speak for the rest of feudal Europe but when we speak of "Celtic" this or that in Scotland, the topic is very dynamic when it comes to geography. There were the areas where Gaelic was spoken and then there were the areas where it wasn't yet retained ideas, values, and social structures that were still Gaelic. That's not ever mentioning what concepts were carried from the Picts or Britons, who were also Celtic.
I think when we think of the term “ kin based Society”, there needs to be a deeper understanding beyond simply being related by blood. I think cultural kinship, as well as other forms of kinship need to be recognized in order to better understand this kind of society. After all, we tend to form bonds with people who are similar to ourselves despite consanguinity.
The Macgregors also used the colours as names, it was common to use names such as , white, black, grey, brown , broon, brune, browne , roi/ roy/ (red, ) green, greene, however , by word of mouth they would all have been aware of their ancestry, no matter how far they travelled , due to circumstances from where they were born.
A good summary until he gets onto tartan where there are a number of errors. Chief amongst these is the perpetuation of the idea that tartan was banned in 1746, it was not, Highland clothes for some men in the Highlands were.
Similarly, the claim that the MacLean tartan dates to the 1500s (16th, not 15th century) is based on a fanciful interpretation of a Latin charter by the Allen (Sobieski) brothers in the c.1820.
Thanks for joining the conversation! The origin of tartan as being connected to a specific clan is an interesting topic. As you pointed out, there are a lot of misconceptions about what was outlawed and what wasn't after Culloden.
'That from and after the first day of August, One thousand, seven hundred and forty-seven, no man or boy within that part of Britain called Scotland, other than such as shall be employed as Officers and Soldiers in His Majesty's Forces, shall, on any pretext whatever, wear or put on the clothes commonly called Highland clothes (that is to say) the Plaid, Philabeg, or little Kilt, Trowse, Shoulder-belts, or any part whatever of what peculiarly belongs to the Highland Garb'. Tartan was banned for fencible Scots in 1746.
I think the corpus of Gàidhlig verse might challenge the idea that there was no difference between a clansman and say a feudal surf. What can be said is that the Celtic system of tanistry had to adapt to the Norman feudal model, particularly after the Lordship of the Isles became willing vassals to the Kings of Scots. But there is ample evidence that Gaels viewed themselves as the kin of their chiefs and that the chief was first among equals. To say that this was nothing different from surf and Lord is an overstatement I think. Ideas to change when you cross language lines.
Great thoughts! Thanks for chipping in. Something Dr. Pittock hit on and which I have heard from others, is that the language thing is tricky. Much of the Lowlands, when the clans that we recognize today were forming, were Gaelic. Even after Gaelic receded and certain areas adopted Scots, which ideas lingered behind pertaining to the kin-based society? John Bannerman has a fascinating paper on this, analyzing kin-based concepts expressed in the Scots language, many of which were carried straight over from Gaelic, which had ceased to be spoken. I can't speak for the rest of feudal Europe but when we speak of "Celtic" this or that in Scotland, the topic is very dynamic when it comes to geography. There were the areas where Gaelic was spoken and then there were the areas where it wasn't yet retained ideas, values, and social structures that were still Gaelic. That's not ever mentioning what concepts were carried from the Picts or Britons, who were also Celtic.
I think when we think of the term “ kin based Society”, there needs to be a deeper understanding beyond simply being related by blood. I think cultural kinship, as well as other forms of kinship need to be recognized in order to better understand this kind of society. After all, we tend to form bonds with people who are similar to ourselves despite consanguinity.
Clan MacNeil of Barra
The Macgregors also used the colours as names, it was common to use names such as , white, black, grey, brown , broon, brune, browne , roi/ roy/ (red, ) green, greene, however , by word of mouth they would all have been aware of their ancestry, no matter how far they travelled , due to circumstances from where they were born.
And other clans.