If you are a member of a clan or society and would like to
participate with us at our annual festival please contact Carole
Sheridan (954) 748-8020 or via email
clans@sassf.org.
You can view or download a clan / society participation application in pdf format for the 2012 Southeast Florida Scottish Festival and Highland Games by clicking the link here.
The Clans And Family Societies
The clan system which arose in Scotland around the 11th century was
a complex society. The clan family was
headed by a Chief. While many of the clansmen were likely to be
blood relations others might be tenants of the clan
lands; smaller families or clans (septs) would put themselves under
the protection of the larger clan. A "sept"
moved into a region or moved out of a region and changed
allegiances. As a result some "septs" are allied with
more than one clan family. The clan system was based on the
economics of the times and functioned, for better or
worse, much like a family business.
The word clan is from the Gaelic and means "children." Originally
each clan was made up of the descendants of one
man and his children. The clan names which are in use today have
come down from the founds of the royal
dynasties of the Picts, the Scots and the Vikings in the Highlands
as well as the noble families of the Britons,
Flemish, Normans, Angles, and Saxons in the Lowlands and Borders.
These royal dynasties are the ancestors of the Scots. Our family
tree grew horizontally as well as vertically. While
the king, queen, or heir apparent of a dynastic family was often
married "across the water" to someone of
comparable royal rank and the heir to a noble title was married
"across country" to ensure peace or secure
property, their other children generally married locally. The
surname of the dynastic family spread slowly, but
through intermarriage gradually everyone in the region was absorbed.
It is this brotherhood, beyond rank, sex, religion, success, or
failure, which links the Scots together. We are all one
interrelated family; the branches of the family are the family
names, clan, and septs. As a result, all bearers of
Scottish names share in the rich pageantry and experiences of our
common ancestors.
Today clan family societies are generally formed for educational,
literary, social, or beneficial purposes, to further
friendships and share the heritage of the clan family to collect and
preserve it's relics and, in the case some larger
societies, to assist in the maintenance and acquisition of former
clan territories in Scotland. Visit the
clan area and meet your family.
The Tartan
Tartan is a particular weave of woolen cloth that is often
associated with the modern use of the word plaid. Plaid
patterns may include squares and rectangles woven in unique and
varying patterns, while tartan is made of a
specific pattern.
Tartan is always woven as twill (two threads passing over two, then
under two). A number of colored stripes of
varying width are woven from the edge of the cloth, running its full
length. It is the basic sequence of stripes (the
sett) that distinguishes one tartan from another. There is no
clearer symbol of Scottish identity than tartan,
especially when worn in the form of a kilt. However, the origin and
significance of the tartan in Scottish history is
unclear.
The Significance of Tartans
The underlying significance of the tartan today is as a means of
clan or family allegiance, but just when and how
this became a part of Scottish culture is hotly debated. One factor
that has been decisive about the history of the
development of the modern system of identification has been the
influence of the tartan manufacturer. They were
responsible for developing early catalogs and order books. It was
soon accepted that the authority for stating what
the correct tartan was for a clan must be its chief. In 1815, the
Highland Society of London began its collection of
approved tartans; and the first book on clan tartans appeared in
1831.
Scottish Tartans Museum
The Scottish Tartans Museum was founded by Scottish Tartans Society,
formed in Scotland in 1963 to "Study the
origins, history, and development of tartans.
Franklin, NC, USA. The Scottish Tartans Museum in Franklin, NC not
only displays Scottish Tartans, but covers
various aspects of the Scottish experience; culture, history, dress,
migration, and military.
Visitors are invited to view their family tartan, connect with their
clan, and learn about the history of Highland
Dress. They can help if you are interested in researching the
recommended tartan for a particular surname, or
would like a full color print of your tartan.
