Tartan is a plaid that stands for something. There are
many different tartans that now exist.
Yet clan tartans only began in the 1800s. Even though
Highlanders wore kilts of plaid wool, before the 1800s clansmen wore plant
badges in their bonnets so people could tell their clans. But two brothers
fooled people into believing that each of the clans had its own tartan,
and clan tartans have become a tradition in the last 150 years.
Today there are tartans that represent
clans, families, towns, regions, provinces, states and countries.
|
Campbell Tartan
To the left is the Campbell tartan. This tartan can be worn
by any descendant of Clan Campbell. It is sometimes called Ancient Campbell
tartan by the stores and shops.
People who know that their ancestors were part of the
Campbells of Loudoun, Breadalbane or Cawdor can wear the tartans of those
younger houses of Clan Campbell. But all of Clan Campbell can wear the
blue, black and green tartan.
|
How to tell Campbell Tartan
Because there are many tartans that have blue, black and green
in them, it can be hard to tell one from another. Here is how to tell that
it is really Campbell tartan.
Notice that there are squares of blue, separated from
squares of green. Look at the blue squares. In them you will notice black
double lines that look a little like railroad tracks. In one blue square
there will be one set of railroad tracks. Next to the blue square is a
green square with a black line through it. Next comes anothe blue square.
But that square has two sets of railroad tracks running through
it. That is followed by another square of green with a single black line
through it. The pattern begins again at this point.
Below is a picture that shows the railroad tracks.
|
The Four Campbell Tartans
To see a full page of tartan, click on the Campbell
cap badges below.
Clan Campbell |
Campbell of Loudoun |
 Campbell
of Breadalbane |
Campbell of Cawdor |
|
|
