Celebrate Tartan Day

For those of you who do not know, April 6 is Tartan Day here in the US. In celebration, the St. Andrew's Society of Atlanta (Benjy and I are both members) has a yearly reception. This year it was held at the British Consul General's home. Fred and our friend Leslie went with me and we had a fantastic time!! I don't think Leslie realized that she would learn how to Scottish Country Dance that night, but she did a fabulous job. Fred, however, could not be found once the dancing began, which was no suprise to me - I danced anyway!

Enjoy the pictures and the information below... Remember, if you're related the Ma'ma Barton, your Scottish ancestors landed on these shores in the 1730's...

P.S. my little secret is that I got my dress for less than $13!!!

Few things say Scottish more plainly than Tartan. Tartan is the cloth of kilts, sashes and bagpipes. If you want to add a Scottish flavor to something, a wee bit o' tartan does the trick.

in 1997, the Senate of the United States proclaimed that April 6th of each year should be known as National Tartan Day. This action was taken in part to recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish Americans to the United States. It recognized the fact that almost half the signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish decent and nine of the Governors of the 13 original States were of Scottish ancestry. It noted that the monumental achievements and invaluable contribution made by Scottish Americans led to America's preeminence in the fields of science, technology, medicine, government, politics, economics, architecture, literature, media and visual and performing arts. The Senate's proclamation was intended to draw attention to the great impact that Scots have had in shaping the United States.

The date, April 6th was not just a randomly selected date. April 6th is a date with historic importance to both Scotland and to the United States. You will recall that William Wallace, the great hero of Scotland was waging war against the English in the early 1300's (the Battle of Stirling Bridge and Falkirk). With Wallace's death, the army of England's King Edward overran Scotland. That set the stage for the emergence of Robert the Bruce who claimed the crown of Scotland and subsequently defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. With the departure of the English from Scotland, it was necessary for Scotland to be recognized by England and other countries as a free and independent country.

On April 6, 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath was created. Its author is unknown but believed to have been the Abbot of Arbroath. The Declaration was signed by eight earls and 45 barons and asked for the Pope's intervention in wars between Scotland and England. The Declaration contained an indictment of the horrors inflicted upon the Scots by the English king, Edward. It bound the Scottish people to their king in order that he might protect their freedom, but in the Declaration, they reserved the right to remove and replace him if he betrayed their trust. It also affirmed the nation's independence and justified that independence as a right that transcends nation and race.

The most famous lines from the Declaration state, "For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself."

That concept of freedom, carried in the hearts and minds of Scots, was brought to America where it burst forth again 456 years later as the American Declaration of Independence. Listen for the echoes. The American Declaration begins: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certin unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Government." There follows an indictment of King George and then ends with these words, "We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our fortunes and our sacred Honour."

April 6th is National Tartan Day - wear some tartan and wear it proudly!

Here's to the Tartan:
The fighting sheen o' it;
The yellow, the green o' it;
The black, the red o' it;
Every thread o' it.
The fair have sighed for it;
The brave have died for it;
Foemen sought for it;
Heroes fought for it;
Honour the name o' it;
Drink to the fame o' it;
THE TARTAN

The preceeding is from an email Daddy sent me. Not sure were it came from. Hope you learned something. I did!