Kirkin' of the Tartan

[ChattanCat]

The St. Andrews Society of Kansas City sent me the Kirkin' of the Tartan:

"There are a couple of versions attributed to be the origin of this tradition. One is that Scotland in the mid-18th century saw the English parliament and monarchy (The Disarming Act, 1746 - 1782) banning weapons, as well as the wearing of tartan or kilts by Highland clansmen (effective August 1747). A latter-day legend has it that clansmen would carry small pieces of the banned tartan cloth to the Church (Kirk) and the clergymen would slip a blessing into the service.

While this is a great romantic legend, in all probablity, the first Kirkin' was actually held on Sunday evening, April 27, 1941, in Washington, D.C., at a special service led by Peter Marshall, famed pastor (1935 - 1949) of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Attended by members of the St. Andrews Society of Washington, D.C., the 1941 service had Scottish airs as a prelude to the service. Designed to raise funds, this Kirkin’ service sought to aid Scottish churches during the early days of World War II, as well as the British war effort, by providing a mobile kitchen, according to the church bulletin."

Was it really an American inspired tradition?

[PiobBear]

Was it really an American inspired tradition?

Yes; it has no analog in Scotland, and all that stuff of secretly blessing tartan during the Proscription is romantic fantasy.

[vmac3205]

None the less, it's a nice ceremony. Even though it is not my religious tradition, I attend with my husband, and find time well spent.

[David Duncan]

I have had a Canadian minister submit an article to my site on this subject, anyone who would like to read it should go to www.your-kilt.com/the-kirkin-of-the-tartan.html

I trust it will throw some light on the subject.

Kind Regards, David.

www.your-kilt.com

[ChattanCat]

What does Kirkin' mean? Is it Gaelic?

[slohairt]

No. It's Lowland Scots, derived from the word 'kirk' meaning 'church'. It basically means ' a ceremonial attendance at a church'.

[paulhenry]

The word "kirk" probably comes from the Norse , eg, Swedish "kryka" but Kirk is usually used as the everyday name for "the Church of Scotland"

[cajunscot]

I have had a Canadian minister submit an article to my site on this subject, anyone who would like to read it should go to www.your-kilt.com/the-kirkin-of-the-tartan.html

I trust it will throw some light on the subject.

Kind Regards, David.

www.your-kilt.com

This article looks very suspiciously like an article of mine that appears on the Scottish Tartans Museum's web site:

http://scottishtartans.org/kirkin.htm

If the author did use my article as a source, I would like credit.

Regards,

Todd

ps: thread moved to tartans and heraldry section.

[Highland Logan]

This article looks very suspiciously like an article of mine that appears on the Scottish Tartans Museum's web site:

http://scottishtartans.org/kirkin.htm

If the author did use my article as a source, I would like credit.

Regards,

Todd

ps: thread moved to tartans and heraldry section.

Sorry I read both, and I don't see it being similar to yours, anymore than other articals I've seen writen.

Frank

[cajunscot]

EDIT: The webmaster has contacted the author, who did use my article as a source. Both were very apologetic and agreed to credit the STM article.

All's well that ends well.

Todd