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    Formally known as an achievement, armorial achievement, or heraldic achievement, what is commonly referred to as a "coat of arms" consists of several parts: the shield, the mantling, the helm, the wreath, charges, and the crest (note that not all arms have crests). The Heraldic Description of a Coat of Arms The official, written description of the coat of arms is called the "blazon of arms," such as "azure, a fess argent between in chief two fleurs-de-lis and in base a lion passant of the same." The blazon may seem like a foreign language, but it is simply a...

Thank you for another year at the Colorado Renaissance Festival!  Hope everyone had as good of a time as we did. Thanks to Jessica Eckert, My very special friend!

Tartans Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns. Tartan is often called plaid in North America, but in Scotland, a plaid is a tartan clothslung over the shoulder as a kilt accessory, or a plain ordinary blanket such as one would have on a bed. Tartan is made with alternating bands of colored (pre-dyed) threads woven as both warp and weft at right angles to each...

   Scottish Clan A Scottish clan (from Gaelic clann, "children") is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon, which regulates Scottish heraldry and coats of arms. Most clans have their own tartan patterns, usually dating from the 19th century, which members may incorporate into kilts or other clothing.  The modern image of clans, each with their own tartan and specific land, was promulgated by the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott after influence by...

  One of the most distinctive qualities of heraldry is the use of a limited palette of colors and patterns, usually referred to as tinctures. These are divided into three categories, known as metals, colors, and furs.   The metals are or and argent, representing gold and silver, respectively, although in practice they are usually depicted as yellow and white. Five colors are universally recognized: gules, or red; sable, or black; azure, or blue;vert, or green; and purpure, or purple; and most heraldic authorities also admit two additional colors, known as sanguine or murrey, a dark red or mulberry colour...