Tartan Day

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Sean Connery at a Tartan Day celebration in Washington D.C. with members of the USAF Reserve Pipes and Drums.

Tartan Day celebrates the existing and historical links between Scotland and Scottish descendants overseas. In the United States there are over 11 million people who claim Scots descent [1], and most take pride in the transatlantic connection. In North America Tartan Day is held on April 6, the anniversary of the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was created in 1320, whereas in Australia and New Zealand, it is held on July 1, the anniversary of the repeal of the Act of Proscription in 1782.

[edit] About Tartan Day

In 1982, under the auspices of the New York Caledonian Club , New York State Governor Hugh Carey, and New York City Mayor Ed Koch declared July 1, 1982, as Tartan Day, a one-time celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Repeal of the Act of Proscription of 12 August 1747, forbidding Scots to wear the Tartan, a symbol of Scottish clan and spirit. These Proclamations remain in the archives of the NYCC.

In Canada, the idea of a 'Scots Day', immediately renamed 'Tartan Day', to visibly promote recognition of Scottish heritage originated with the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia [2] in 1986 [3]. Petitioned by Jean Watson, President of Clan Farquharson, first the legislature of Nova Scotia, in 1987, then consequently the legislatures of each of the other nine Canadian Provinces proclaimed April 6, as Tartan Day. Currently a private member's bill is moving through the Canadian Parliament for national recognition of the day in Canada [4]. An annual 'Gathering of the Clans' will take place each April 6 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa at 12 noon with pipes, drums, and dancing hosted by the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, Canada's oldest civilian pipe band http://www.sospb.com

The idea was revived in the United States and since 1998, the date of April 6 has been officially recognized by the United States Senate as a celebration of the contribution made by generations of Scots-Americans to the foundation and prosperity of modern America.

The date commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, the first known formal Declaration of independence. Not only was the United States Declaration of Independence modeled on that document, but almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent and the Governors in 9 of the original 13 States were of Scottish ancestry.^{[citation needed]}

Tartan Day is now firmly part of the North American calendar. Supporters of the event call it a signal of the strengthening Scots-Canadian/American relationship in the 21st century. The Tunes of Glory Parade in 2002 saw 10,000 pipers and drummers march through the streets of New York. They were the centerpiece of the event where thousands of Americans celebrated their links to Scotland. One of Scotland's national treasures, William Wallace's sword, left Scotland for the first time in 700 years and was flown to New York for the Tartan Week celebrations of 2005.

Efforts were made in 2006 to raise the profile of the day in Scotland^{[citation needed]}. It was the first year that the celebration had had a noticeable presence in Scotland^{[citation needed]}. Events were held in Aberdeen, Montrose, Arbroath, Kilmarnock, Stirling, Perth, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Tartan Day Celebrations in Scotland, Tartan Day Celebrations Worldwide

[edit] The Tartan Day resolution of the United States Senate

Senate Resolution 155, March 20th 1998

Whereas April 6 has a special significance for all Americans, and especially those Americans of Scottish descent, because the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, was signed on April 6, 1320 and the American Declaration of Independence was modeled on that inspirational document;

Whereas this resolution honors the major role that Scottish Americans played in the founding of this Nation, such as the fact that almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, the Governors in 9 of the original 13 States were of Scottish ancestry, Scottish Americans successfully helped shape this country in its formative years and guide this Nation through its most troubled times;

Whereas this resolution recognizes the monumental achievements and invaluable contributions made by Scottish Americans that have led to America's preeminence in the fields of science, technology, medicine, government, politics, economics, architecture, literature, media, and visual and performing arts;

Whereas this resolution commends the more than 200 organizations throughout the United States that honor Scottish heritage, tradition, and culture, representing the hundreds of thousands of Americans of Scottish descent, residing in every State, who already have made the observance of Tartan Day on April 6 a success;

Whereas these numerous individuals, clans, societies, clubs, and fraternal organizations do not let the great contributions of the Scottish people go unnoticed:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate designates April 6 of each year as "National Tartan Day."

[edit] The Tartan Day resolution of the United States House of Representatives

On March 9, 2005, the United States House of Representatives unanimously adopted House Resolution 41, which designates April 6 of each year as "National Tartan Day.” H.Res.41 Chief Sponsors were Congressmen Mike McIntyre from North Carolina and John Duncan from Tennessee. In addition to the two chief sponsors, the resolution had 54 co-sponsors, including Congresswoman Candice Miller of Michigan, Congressman Danny K. Davis of Illinois and Congressman Alcee Hastings of Florida, who all addressed the House of Representatives in favour of the resolution. This action completes the efforts that began in 1998 when the 105th Congress passed a similar resolution, Senate Resolution 155. The resolution was encouraged by the National Capital Tartan Day Committee, the coalition of Washington, D.C. Scottish-American organizations that has been at the forefront of National Tartan Day efforts since 1998.

[edit] Tartan Day external links

• National Tartan Day USA
• National Tartan Day in Washington DC
• Scottish Executive Tartan Day Site
• Scottish Parliament Tartan Day Site
• Scottish Freemasonry and Tartan Day
• Tunes of Glory
• Federation of Scottish Clans of Nova Scotia

[edit] See also

• History of Scotland
• Tartan