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Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Ya hafta be very careful about coats-of-arms. If you really wanna be persnickety about it, unless it's been issued by Garter King of Arms (the agency in England that creates and issues coats-or arms) and inheritable (with proof) you're not entitled to bear them.
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Yes, that's true. Don't forget that the rules for English crests and such can be different from other countries. My family is from Poland where heraldry ideas are different from Western ideas. Polish arms are "runic" in nature - that is, they don't typically feature the same symbols and pictures a French crest might. Such Polish arms are rarely quarted into sections or things like that. I'm no expert; but this is my understanding.
Whole groups of Polish and Lithuanian families may be entitled to bear a particular clan arms. But still, one is supposed to have letters showing that the arms has been granted to your family. This is similar to what you mention above.
I have an aunt in Poland whose family was granted arms in 1800 or so. We believe that the arms might have been granted by a foreign king after one of Poland's partitions (it got split between Austria, Russia and Prussia). Unfortunately, for the families who had been granted arms during those times, their accomplishment is looked down upon. This means that, though she bears papers, it isn't good enough because it was an "invader" who gave her family that crest.
Since she has since lost the papers somewhere, we're unsure of the exact date. I'm hoping we can dig a copy out of the Polish archives to find out. If it was *just* a bit earlier than we think, say 1790, then it would be a Polish king who granted the arms and it would be all good! Whew!
Anywayyyyyy, I digress.
I am fairly certain that many Greek Letter Organization crests are based upon many different sources and not necessarily just English ideas. (heh, I have yet to see one which looks Polish though! lol )
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It's like making the unfathomable social mistake of wearing a British school, university or military regiment tie when you're not entitled to wear it.
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Yeah! If I catch anyone who isn't a student wearing University of Bristol crest, you're gonna get it!!
<Kelly shakes her fist menacingly>
I'm just kidding....
.....Kelly
(I wear the university scarf 'cause I'm a girl and we don't wear ties....)