[81] Grant Tartans
The correct clan wear is the red Grant, known by the Scottish Tartans Society as Grant of Lurg. Our clan also enjoys the distinction of having an undress or so called 'hunting tartan' in the sett of the Black Watch Government tartan. Whilst the sett, or number of threads of each colour is the important item, the actual colours can vary in shade from hard dark shades to faded or light shades of colour.
Clan Identification Badge
The distinguishing badge from ancient times for identification purposes is a sprig of Scots pine (pinus silvestris), normally worn in the Balmoral or Glengarry headwear.
Clan Crest Badge
The crest badge, which all Grants are entitled to wear on their hat or jacket, is the Chief's crest of a burning mountain or in heraldic language ‘a mountain inflamed proper'. This signifies the bonfire lit on Craigelachie at Aviemore, and another some miles east of the former. This crest is surrounded by a buckled belt carrying the motto and war cry 'Stand Fast Craigelachie'.
Flags
The armorial banner or standard of a person granted the right to arms can only be displayed when the holder is present or otherwise with his, or her, special permission.
Coat of Arms
The Chief and the heads of all cadet families have their own coats of arms granted and protected by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms. But any clan member [82] not otherwise entitled to arms can display a pincel flag, that is a triangular flag, and for the Grants it would be red in colour and have on it three ancient crowns in gold. (I saw a pincel flying over the headquarters booth at Grand-father Mountain Games, South Carolina, U.S.A. in 1978.)
Eagle Feathers
There is a certain amount of misunderstanding about the wearing of feathers in the headwear over the clan badge. Whilst there appears to be no hard and fast rule, the practice is as follows: feathers are worn to readily identify the wearer — a three feather man is the recognised hereditary Chief of a Clan; a two feather man is either the Chief's eldest son or the recognised hereditary Chief of a cadet family (these are normally called Clan Chieftains); a one feather man is a younger son of the Chief or a son of a Chieftain of a cadet family of that clan, or the head of a cadet family. These are normally known as Clan Captains.
None of the foregoing has any relation to elected appointments in a Clan Society whose officials normally have other titles, such as Society Lieutenant or Commissioner, or any other such suitable titles as a Society may decide upon.