Celebrate National Tartan Day April 6

[DJLadyK]

Did you know that National Tartan Day is coming up? It's a day when people of Scottish ancestry, like yours truly, get to celebrate our heritage. The date was selected in anniversary of the 1320 signing of the Declaration of Arbroath, which was when Scotland asserted her sovereignty over English territorial claims. The Arbroath signing was an influence on the wording and ideas behind the United States' Declaration of Independence, signed some 450 years later.

In addition to bringing us fine whiskey, bagpipe music, and men in kilts (three sure signs that there are gods in the universe), the Scots have contributed a lot of really neat things to today's modern world. A number of Scottish immigrants came to the Colonies following the battle of Culloden in the 1740s, and settled along the Atlantic coast, later moving west to the Appalachian region.

The first Tartan Day was celebrated in the US in 1997. If you're a teacher or a homeschooler, check out the Educators' Resources on the Tartan Day page for some cool ideas.

[queenmommy1975]

Apr. 4, 2008 at 12:56 PM Thank you for this!!! My hubby's family is here from Scotland (His great-grandfather came here from The Isle of Mann).  I will be passing this along to him and the other McMurtries =D

[DJLadyK]

Apr. 4, 2008 at 4:47 PM I'm  a McCully! :)

(Original Poster)

[taiauberon]

Apr. 4, 2008 at 5:58 PM I'm a Gunn!  I'll be pulling out the arisade for Sunday!  Thanks for the reminder, wonder if I can get DH to wear his great kilt?