The Kilt

As you can read on our Ferguson Attributen Page, the Clan Ferguson has 4 different Clan Tartans.

Clan Tartans are patterns commonly used by the Clansmen. The rhombus was presumably used by the Celts: "breacan". The word Tartan originates in the 15th and 16th centuries. Probably from French: tiretaine, which refers to a colored woolen fabric.

Towards the end of the 16th century, the Highlanders used the "breacan feile". This 4.5 x 1.5m fabric is strung lying on the ground. The lower part has become the kilt.

Pinned the upper part to the left shoulder with one cloth pin. The advantage was that the arms remained free, while you could wrap the plaid around you like a cape.

The "belted plaid (breacan feile)" was the everyday clothing. The chiefs, chieftains and nobles wore the "triubhas" (close-fitting trousers).

The "belted plaid" was taken off before one battle, to the annoyance of the Lowlanders, who called the Highlanders "naked savages". Not entirely justified, since they only buttoned their shirts between their legs.

From the kilt garment arose the small "feile beag" or "philibag", made of 6 cubits (± 5.5 m) of fabric, pleated and sewn; it is the modern form of the "Highland Dress". Here, a vest and a jacket with horn buttons are worn, strong "drogs" (open shoes to let water run out more easily) and a simple knitted pair of trousers as well as a blue, wide cap with the Crest.

The kilt should reach to the middle of the knee for the men, to above the knee for the women. They also wear, without the other accessories, a "tonnag": a shoulder shawl of tartan fabric over the right shoulder and fastened with a badge brooch.

The kilt includes the "sporran", a leather case (the "balmoral"), a beret and a small knife in the right stocking: the "skean dhu". The Lowlanders wore no kilt, because they saw it as uncivilized. It is unclear whether there were clan tartans in the 16th century. Well, there were panes per district. After the incorporation of the Scottish Parliament into the English, the tartan became a symbol of protest.

After the infamous Battle of Culloden in 1746, where the Scottish Clans were completely wiped out by the English army, the British Parliament allowed no more Scottish insignia to be worn or used. The bagpipe was also banned.

In fact, the current tartans only re-emerged in Victorian times. Queen Victoria bought Balmoral Castle in Scotland and became obsessed with the clan tartans of old. The decorations of the castle were made in one variation of the Stuart Tartan: the Balmoral Tartan, only in front of the royal house. That is again the rise of the Clans and the paraphernalia of it.