The Tartan


 

The tartan is a tapestry that is woven with particular colored stripes into a cloth.  The pattern of the tartan identifies clans, families, dress, and purposes, although they were originally distinctive to regions rather than specific clans.  Weavers at the time were dependent on local plants to create dyes.  This gave their tartans a regional color.

 

The tartan was banned for 36 years until 1782.  There was a penalty to all common Highland men who were caught wearing the tartan.  It was an effort to destroy the Clan System that was causing so many problems for the Government in the Highlands.

In the 1800’s, the tartan designs began to be associated with individual families.  Some of the credit is given to Sir Walter Scott who persuaded Highland Chiefs to attend functions for the 1822 visit of King George IV to Edinburgh in their Clan tartans.  Scott also romanticized the tartan in his novels.   It has become one of the most important symbols of Scottish culture and customs.