National Tartan Day

[honeychile]

You're probably not finished celebrating St. Patrick's Day, but for those of you who are Irish AND Scots, get ready to party again!

Seems that every April 6th is Tartan Day, and with over 11 million Scots in the United States, you may have missed out on a chance to pay homage to your Scottish ancestors in the past. From the Eogn newsletter:

"National Tartan Day
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Announcements: Let’s make haggis!

April 6 will be the national holiday for all Scottish Americans. More than eleven million Americans claim Scottish and Scotch-Irish roots, making them the eighth largest ethnic group in the United States. From the framers of the Declaration of Independence to the first man on the moon, Scottish-Americans have contributed mightily to the fields of the arts, science, politics, law, and more. These are the people and accomplishments that are honored on National Tartan Day, April 6th.

"The picture [below] is of Sean Connery with members of the United States Air Force Reserve’s Pipe and Drum Band in Washington, DC. The occasion was Tartan Day, 2004....

"On March 9, 2005, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted House Resolution 41, which designates April 6th of each year as “National Tartan Day.” National Tartan Day was created to recognize the contributions that were made by Scottish-Americans to the development of the United States. April 6 was chosen as that date commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which asserted Scotland’s sovereignty over English territorial claims, and which was an influence on the American Declaration of Independence.

"Canada has been celebrating “National Tartan Day” since 1993.

"Because April 6 falls in mid-week (Tuesday), New York City will celebrate Tartan Day the following Saturday: April 10. Two thousand pipers and drummers will assemble for the 12th Annual New York Tartan Day Parade – New York’s biggest celebration for pipers, drummers, Scottish music and single malt whisky! The 2010 Grand Marshal will be Alex Fergusson, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament.

"A post-parade party will be held at Stout NYC, 133 West 33rd Street, featuring popular live bands “Enter the Haggis” and “Barley Juice.”"

Read more about it at: Tartan Day. If my taxes are done (!), plan to see me at the Alexandria festivities!

[33girl]

If it's not Scottish it's crap!!!

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If it's not Scottish it's crap!!!

LOVE it!

I happen to have a thing for some Scots....Ewan McGregor, David Tennant, John Barrowman, Sean Connery....It's not the kilts that do it per se, but I thought it would be fun to post pics of them wearing their tartans!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by honeychile

You're probably not finished celebrating St. Patrick's Day, but for those of you who are Irish AND Scots, get ready to party again!

(Ur fur those us fa ur Scots an' nae Irish. )

Hoot mon!

It's aye irked me jist a wee bit 'at Tartan Day is in Apryle, when it can be gettin' tay warm tae wear wool. (Thoogh nae nearly as hot as it can be in Julie fur th' Heelain Games.) But Ah gie that's it's th' anniversary ay th' Declaration ay Arbroath. Besides, there's aye St. Andrew's Day in November an' Burns Nicht in Januar.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

(Ur fur those us fa ur Scots an' nae Irish. )

Hoot mon!

It's aye irked me jist a wee bit 'at Tartan Day is in Apryle, when it can be gettin' tay warm tae wear wool. (Thoogh nae nearly as hot as it can be in Julie fur th' Heelain Games.) But Ah gie that's it's th' anniversary ay th' Declaration ay Arbroath. Besides, there's aye St. Andrew's Day in November an' Burns Nicht in Januar.

LOL. It took me a good minute to decipher this.

[ms_gwyn]

I need to find one of these....cause both Scots and Irish men do it for me....BIG TIME

[carnation]

Yay! Time to break out my kilt! I love my clan plaid, it's blue and gray and red.

[honeychile]

I wear my clan insignia several days a week, but I'm going the next step and getting the sash. The people I've talked to always discourage women from wearing a kilt.

On a happier note, one of the parts that I've admired about the wearing of the plaid is that a woman can wear either her tartan or her husband's tartan.

And why oh why don't more men realize how sexy a man in a kilt truly is?!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I wear my clan insignia several days a week, but I'm going the next step and getting the sash. The people I've talked to always discourage women from wearing a kilt.

That's because if you're talking Scottish, a kilt is men's clothing. Women and girls wear tartan/kilted skirts, Aboyne skirts or the like. Often they look a lot like kilts, but a kilt proper is male attire.

And why oh why don't more men realize how sexy a man in a kilt truly is?!

[ForeverRoses]

At the St. Patrick's Day parade I was handed a card noting the highland festival that is going to be in Indianapolis in April (not sure if it is on Tartan day or not). Anyway, the festival is taking place at the Latvian Society.

I had to laugh that while I was attending an Irish parade, I was invited to a Scottish celebration held at the Latvian society hall. Talk about an American stew!

and one last thing- my son's first communion is coming up and I am letting him pick out his own tie to wear. He wants to wear a plaid one "like Opa wears" (my Dad). My dad's tie is our clan's plaid. But I didn't know all the rules- can my son wear the plaid from my Dad's family? (obviously he can no matter what, but I didn't know the offical rules)

[aephi alum]

If only my tartan skirt still fit.

Originally Posted by honeychile

On a happier note, one of the parts that I've admired about the wearing of the plaid is that a woman can wear either her tartan or her husband's tartan.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it works both ways - a man can wear his wife's tartan.

And why oh why don't more men realize how sexy a man in a kilt truly is?!

Indeed! *yum*

[Psi U MC Vito]

I know clans are families. Are septs like sub families within the clans? Or are they more like cadet branches of a clan?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Laird MysticCat, which tartan will ye be sportin'?

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

I know clans are families. Are septs like sub families within the clans? Or are they more like cadet branches of a clan?

Clans are really larger/broader than families as such, thought the sense of shared ancestry is certainly a large part of it.

Septs are other family groups that gave allegiance to a clan chief (or who lived on land belonging to the chief) and thus came under the umbrella/protection of the clan.

[DrPhil]

Two words: Sean Connery.

*heart drops*

[PhoenixAzul]

As a graduate, I wore my Glasgow University tartan, which is my favorite. Based on our school crest:


and it looks like this


I have a number of familial tartans I could wear, but the Glasgow Uni and Glasgow City are my favorites.