Clans & Tartans - A Few Facts
The gaelic word clann - means children, offspring or family.
In scots the word had three meanings (from the Dictionary of Old Scots Tongue) :
1. a tribe or race in general
2. a class or set of persons
3. one of the local or family groups of Scotland, especially in the Highlands or Borders, who bear a common name and are united under a head or chief.
A clansman is someone who shows allegiance to a chief of a clan. He may belong to the clan by birth right or be adopted into the clan.
Any clansman had the power to depose a chieftain who tried to undermine the authority of the clan. The chieftains role was that of a father figure. He would govern the clan territory, dividing the land up to the benefit of all the clan members. He would sort out any family disputes and in times of war would lead his clan into battle.
In the 17th century tartan was not as we know it today. It started as a simple two coloured check made from coloured wool of the native sheep. This was woven into intricate striped or chequered cloth. Often a particular design became associated with a certain district of the Highlands. This design was passed from generation to generation and became a recognition of where a person came from and maybe the clan he belonged to. The first tartans were simple natural colours, later this developed into tartan woven from wool dyed with natural plant dyes - leaves, berries, lichen and bark were all used.
The tartans around this time were not definitely connected to an individual clan. It is said that a sprig of plant in the bonnet was used to give a clan identity.
The tartans we see today did not exist in the 17th century. All Cadadh dolls are dressed in tartans which were established and named towards the end of the 18th century. The tartans Cadadh uses have been specially woven in muted colours to show you how your ancestors may have looked.
