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This is a question that I am often ask and I shall attempt to answer it now on this web page.
Scotland, as you probably know is comprised of four parts: the Lowlands, the Border, the Highlands, and the Islands (the Western Isles, or the Hebrides).
Clans were froom only the Highlands and Border Area. It is well documented that the Lowlands comprised mainly of Anglo Saxons and Norman mixtures, hated the Highlanders, their manner of dress, and everything about them. They considered the Highlanders (and a great portion of the Borders), as barbarians. They knew the sting of the cattle reiving that was engaged in, by the Highlanders and the Borders. The Highlanders and some Borders considered the Lowlands, merely an extension of the hated England. The Borders were Celtic, Pict, Scot, and Saxon mixture, and the Highlanders were also mixtures of Celtic, Picts, Norse, and Scots (with origins in Ireland). This mixture, spoke a language which was beautiful, but to the Lowlanders, they felt it was backward and horrible.
These were really three different cultures clashing and really not liking each other at all. The Borders is more unique, as they had both Lowland, Border and Highlanders mixed in with their own marsh and fighting culture.
It was not until Queen Victoria, and her Albert visited the Highlands during her reign, that they fell in love with "all things Highland". Albert said it reminded his of a Switzerland Village Area that he had loved. Victoria decorated her first quarters with all the Highland trappings and later when she and Albert purchased Balmoral Castle, (formerly owned by a great warrior fighter of the Highlanders), that the castle was changed, altered and added to by Albert, (fancying himself an architect.) Victoria, on the other hand decorated the castle with every item of Highland custom she could find. There, tartans of many mixtures were in all the rooms, walls, furniture, pillows, etc., and the walls were decorated with Highland swords, dirks, sgian dubhs, and all manner of Scottish customs were carried out. The lamps were made of Scottish items.
It was about this time that Sir Walter Scott, a Lowlander who was enamoured with the Highlands; [and I am pleased he was, as he preserved much of the Highland culture in writing ]and with the support of Victoria and Albert, began writing his "Waverly Novels". This was the beginning of the 'romanticizing' of the Highlands and the Highlanders.
Now the Highlanders took a dim view of the 'romanticizing' their difficult life, into a big romantic scheme. They were a hard working, hard fighting, clan based society, and they were beautiful people but hardly romantic, in literal sense. In their looks or customs, they were a fierce group and worked hard to live in such an area. They also didn't quite know what to make of Queen Victoria's tromping around the Highlands, 'oohing' and 'ahhing' everthing, and seemingly, she loved all the Highlanders, although she rubbed elbows mainly with the rich Highlanders, (the Royals).
Victoria gave lavish parties, dinners and other affairs and she enjoyed it so much, she decided that all her guests should not be allowed to come to the entertainment that she provided, unless they were dressed in their Highland tartans, with all the trappings. Well......there was such a rush at the weavers to get their order in for a tartan, arms, pick colours, buy their swords, sgian dubhs, bonnets, sporrans and all the Highland trappings, causing the weavers to be constantly weaving, and the sword makers busy making swords and importing many from Spain. All sorts of Highland pens, kilts, tartans ....'anything' Highland was suddenly adopted by the "families" that had no Highland connection whatsoever, and in fact, a generation before, wouldn't be seen dead in the dreaded Highland clothes. Now....of course, it was another matter. If the Queen adopted this manner of dress, they had to also, or not be invited to her parties and dinners.
That was the long and the short of it. Suddenly families started calling themselves "Clans", and from that time to present, wear the 'Highland form of dress to formal and even daytime occasions with 'gusto.' It was due to Queen Victoria, Albert and Sir Walter Scott that the Highland Dress became a national habit......much to the amusement of the Highlanders.
This is likely to upset the Lowlanders who believe Highland Dress and the Kilt was their birthright, but it is history ladies and gentlemen, and it cannot be changed as easily as some would like. However, it has become the "national dress of Scotland" and all who live there can and many do, wear the Highland Dress with all the gusto and admiration, as if it had always been their own, and many a family put the word "Clan" in front of their name.
The Lord Lyon, who works at the pleasure of the Queens and Kings of England, keeps adding Clans every year! What started out in the 1950's as about 50 "real" clans, has been added to by the Lord Lyons, and we had, at last count, 188 or so Clans.......and continually adding to that list. Of course, being a Historian of the Ancient Clans of Scotland, I take a dim, if however, passive view of this phenomenon.
That is the answer to the question of why families became Clans. And it is history. by Nancy MacCorkill,F.S.A. Scot,
Author, Poet,
Historian of the Ancient Clans of Scotland
"All rights reserved 05/04/1997,thru 2003 inclusive, Nancy MacCorkill"
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