On Thursday it was 'Ballater Games Day'. I haven't been to Ballater Games since I was the age of the girls above and used to compete in the Highland Dancing Competitions. I was always nervous but usually came away with prizes, and prizes meant prize money, so it was always worth it!
My mum used to tie my hair up into a very tight bun too, I remember it well! I can just imagine the chat going on amongst these three local girls.
@casablanca I am Clan McDuff, and my kilt is Dress McDuff (a white background with mainly red and green. My maiden name is Duff. I still have my kilt, pumps and tartan socks, and even better, I can still get into them! I can also wear Murray tartan from my paternal granny's side of the family. Through marriage I can wear the Forbes tartan as the Bannerman was the flag bearer for the Forbes Clan. My dad and brothers wear the Hunting or Red McDuff which is more green and red backgrounds with less white. It's fascinating stuff, the clans and the associated tartans.I think I'm right in saying that the red and blue tartans above are not old tartans, but made because of their attractive colours for the dancers. The other is an old tartan, and a common one, but I can't think for the life of me what it is. I'd guess Anderson, Stuart or Gordon, and probably Dress because of the amount of white - usually chosen by the ladies!
@jamibann How completely fascinating, thank you! I love the intricacies of the clan system and colours, it's complex and so interesting. I bet you always looked very dapper! And I am amazed you can still get into the outfit - wow!!!
@casablanca Ha ha ... but it's not the original kilt I wore when I was 6 years old! It was my second kilt - I was probably 12 by then, and they are amazingly flexible with the buckle fastenings!
@jamibann I don't think I have been a size 12 since I was 12........can't even fit my wedding frock let alone anything from that era! They would have to be VERY flexible for me LOL
What a lovely image and wonderful memories for you! Well done on winning prize money! Thanks for the info on the tartans! They have always fascinated me and I even had a couple of kilts in my younger days. Fashion items though as the kilt was very on trend at one time. I loved the swirl of the pleats! Fav!
What a dear photo! One of the joys living in Nova Scotia is to see the likes of this, the music and the dancers! I recall my mother speaking of one Scottish ancestor (through marriage, I suspect. She'd speak of Ellen McMillan and show us her picture in a beautiful, ornate Victorian frame... Don't know what happened to it, but I recall her words...
August 13th, 2018
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