Can someone explain Scottish clans, Highlanders, and the like to me? (ancient, European)
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I really know nothing about these folks except that they are mentioned every so often in history. I sort of imagine them as being like Indians in being semi-permanently settled except with swords and kilts and for some reason I imagine them not having horses. But every so ofte they'd strike out for a new home or something and abandon their old village.
Some I'm sure everyone will LOL at that, but I think it gives a good impression of how little I know about them.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AuburnAL
I have, and it didn't satisfy my curiosity.
Hmmm ... , OK, how about
1 - why are you asking ?
---- Do you *imagine*, you might be related ?
2 - why would anybody *LOL* about your question ?
---- Maybe they might snicker, but laughing out LOUD ?
---- I do not see anything funny about your question.
---- I have seen some really strange questions on this forum !
3 - Whatever you *found* on the net, did not satisfy you ...
---- What kind of answers were you looking for ?
You were describing (imaginary !) situations that are from way back in time.
I happen to know that there are probably none around,
who could share first hand experiences with you.
Last but not least,
*Scottish clans, Highlanders, and the like*,
what do *you* mean with *the like* ?
Hmmm ... , OK, how about
1 - why are you asking ?
---- Do you *imagine*, you might be related ?
2 - why would anybody *LOL* about your question ?
---- Maybe they might snicker, but laughing out LOUD ?
---- I do not see anything funny about your question.
---- I have seen some really strange questions on this forum !
3 - Whatever you *found* on the net, did not satisfy you ...
---- What kind of answers were you looking for ?
You were describing (imaginary !) situations that are from way back in time.
I happen to know that there are probably none around,
who could share first hand experiences with you.
Last but not least,
*Scottish clans, Highlanders, and the like*,
what do *you* mean with *the like* ?
No not related. I just imagined my perception was pretty far off. Just deeper answers I guess. For example something that could explain what day to day life was like or what a person's life would be like. How these groups interacted with each other and the outside world? Similar stuff about life on the rural margins of Scotland a few hundred years ago and stuff related to it.
Go to local library is my suggestion and get several books to get several views on that subject. History is always written with view point of Author is why read many.
Highlanders were not nomadic, but they did have some of the habits, due to their sheep based culture. Moving at certain times of the year to new grazing lands.
The Clan was the basic unit of family and followers. The leader was the elder man, who made decisions and arbitrated arguments ( as a matter of fact my Family motto is " Nae Quibbles " ) which translates to English as " No Argument ". The followers may have had a different family name from the Clan, but they were aligned, and owed allegiance to the Clan Chief. My Family name is Bunting, but we are a branch of the Graham clan.
The term crofter comes up in many Scotish tales. A crofter was a small land holder, who had sheep, and cattle, and grew grain and vegetables, on a "small holding " that was usually about 20 acres in size. Being close to a stream was important for water, and some crofters became "millers " by building a water powered grist mill, that ground wheat into flour. The progression into making whisky, from stream water, grain, and distillation, was not a big jump.
Peat was an important material, used for a number of things, including being burned in a stone fireplace as a source of heat. Wool from sheep was also a basic part of the economy, for clothing, blankets and hats. Weavers were important people, who produced the cloth that makes kilts, plaids and stockings.
The Highlands and the outer islands, like the Hebrides, are fierce places to live, with many days of fog and rain, and winter snow storms. In the period of the middle ages, a Highlander could spend their entire life with out travelling more than fifty miles in any direction. To say that it was a insulated and isolated life was no exaggeration.
The cities of Scotland were small and farther south than the Highlands area. The city Scots were more educated and inclined to be better educated than their "country cousins ". In the time period of the 1700's a great number of Scots adventurers went to the New World, as explorers, and agents of the Hudson's Bay Company. These were a mixture of educated city men, and rougher Highlanders, who were used to living in a cold and wet environment. The HBC called these men "Factors " as their job was to set up "Fur Factories " in what is now western Canada. The HBC had a Royal Warrant that gave them control of about 70 percent of what is now called Canada. Imagine that ?
By the mid 1800's Canada was being developed and the building of canals, bridges and railways was
underway. To say that " Canada was built by Scotsmen " is very accurate. They were the mechanical engineers, bridge designers, canal builders and architects that built the backbone of my country.
Our first Prime Minister, Sir John A McDonald was a Scot, and over the years we have had a number of PM's that were of Scottish ancestry. I served in a Highland Regiment in the Canadian Forces,( The 48th Highlanders of Canada ) and of course our dress uniform included the kilt ( in our case the Davidson tartan, in honour of our first Colonel, who was a Davidson) other CF units which are Highlanders are the Argyle and Sutherlands, The Calgary Highlanders, The Seaforths, The Cape Breton Highlanders and so on. There are more pipe bands in Canada, than there are in Scotland, by the way, and Simon Fraser University's pipe band in Vancouver, is the world's open class Champion, as of 2014. Simon Fraser was one of those HBC explorers, he was the first European to walk across Canada, to the Pacific Ocean.
Each of the 10 Provinces of Canada has it's own Official tartan, as do the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, The RCAF, and the Royal Canadian Legion. It is not unusual here in Canada to see a Highland wedding, with the entire wedding party in kilts and the brides maids in gowns with their clan tartan scarves. In Cape Breton, which is a part of the Province of Nova Scotia ( translates as New Scotland ) there are some people who can still speak highland Gaelic. Nova Scotia has more people with the last name McDonald than any other place in the world, including Scotland.
Suppers ready.
Jim B.
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