Tartan Day
Tartan day celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath, which confirmed Scotland’s independence on April 6, 1320. The celebration of Tartan Day is primarily a North American tradition that began in Canada in the 1980’s ans quickly spread to the United. Many of our cousins join Tartan Day celebrations across the United States and Canada. This year there are two big Tartan Day celebrations that Macleans are planning to participate in.
Today we wear the tartan and the plaid to celebrate, to remember, to mourn, to belong, and to carry the tradition of our forebears forward another generation; but I think mostly we wear it because we are Scots, we wear it because after centuries of attempts to stamp us out of remembrance we are still here and “entitled tae ask ‘Wha’s like us?’ Damm few an’ there a’ deed.
– Anonymous
History Of Tartan Day
Tartan day celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath, which confirmed Scotland’s status as an independent, sovereign state and defended Scotland’s right to use military action as such. The Declaration, dated April 6, 1320 was submitted to Pope John XXII. The celebration of Tartan Day is primarily a North American tradition that began in Canada in the 1980’s ans quickly spread to the United States.
In the United States April 6th was officially recognized as Tartan Day by the Federal Government in the 1998 Senate Resolution 155 and by the 2005 House Resolution 41. The National Capital Tartan Committee, Inc. and it’s president, James Morrison, worked to secure the passage of these bills which secured a holiday recognizing the role of Scottish Americans in our national history.
Macleans this Tartan Day
Many of our cousins join Tartan Day celebrations across the United States and Canada. This year there are two big Tartan Day celebrations that Macleans are planning to participate in.
- Many Macleans are joining the 20th Annual New York Tartan Day Parade which will take place on Saturday, April 7th—this is easily the largest Tartan Day celebration in the country. For more information, visit the Event Page or contact Less Maclean.
- In North Carolina, Macleans can join the Tartan Day NC celebration. for more information visit the Event Page
