National tartan day (US)

[DonP]

In case anyone missed it, Thursday is a national holiday honoring all the contributions the Scottish people have made. Be sure to wear you kilt.

[MNlad]

Not only is it Tartan Day, it is also New Beer's Eve, celebrating the eve of the roll-back of Prohibition in 1933. What better reason to celebrate? Just to round things out, today is National Tweed Day. Seems it is a good week for Scots, wool, and suds.

[ctbuchanan]

I'll be marching in the Tartan Day Parade in New York City on Saturday April 8.

[Father Bill]

While you may think it is an American special day, it is observed in other countries as well and commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath.

The Declaration of Arbroath is a declaration of Scottish independence, made in 1320. It is in the form of a letter submitted to Pope John XXII, dated 6 April 1320, intended to confirm Scotland's status as an independent, sovereign state and defending Scotland's right to use military action when unjustly attacked.

Generally believed to have been written in the Arbroath Abbey by Bernard of Kilwinning, then Chancellor of Scotland and Abbot of Arbroath,[1] and sealed by fifty-one magnates and nobles, the letter is the sole survivor of three created at the time. The others were a letter from the King of Scots, Robert I, and a letter from four Scottish bishops which all presumably made similar points.

[Downunder Kilt]

Is Tartan Day, 6 April, really a national holiday in n the USA?

[MNlad]

Credit Wikipedia:

Origins
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 1 July 1982, as Tartan Day, a one-time celebration of the 200th anniversary of the repeal of the Act of Proscription of 12 August 1747, the law forbidding Scots to wear tartan. The United States recognized 6 April as Tartan Day in 1998. President George Bush signed on April 4th 2008 a Presidential Proclamation making April 6th National Tartan Day! And, NO, we don't get the day off!

On 9 March 1986, a 'Tartan Day' to promote Scottish heritage in Canada, was proposed at a meeting of the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia. Jean Watson, President of Clan Lamont, petitioned provincial legislatures to recognize April 6 as Tartan Day. The first such proclamation was by Nova Scotia in April 1987; other provinces followed suit until Quibec was the last to fall in line, in December 2003.

In Australia, wearing tartan on 1 July has been encouraged since 1989. The day has been promoted as International Tartan Day in Australia since 1996 and has been formally recognized by many states, but not at national level.

[Walkman]

Credit Wikipedia:

Origins
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 1 July 1982, as Tartan Day, a one-time celebration of the 200th anniversary of the repeal of the Act of Proscription of 12 August 1747, the law forbidding Scots to wear tartan. The United States recognized 6 April as Tartan Day in 1998. President George Bush signed on April 4th 2008 a Presidential Proclamation making April 6th National Tartan Day! And, NO, we don't get the day off!

On 9 March 1986, a 'Tartan Day' to promote Scottish heritage in Canada, was proposed at a meeting of the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia. Jean Watson, President of Clan Lamont, petitioned provincial legislatures to recognize April 6 as Tartan Day. The first such proclamation was by Nova Scotia in April 1987; other provinces followed suit until Quibec was the last to fall in line, in December 2003.

In Australia, wearing tartan on 1 July has been encouraged since 1989. The day has been promoted as International Tartan Day in Australia since 1996 and has been formally recognized by many states, but not at national level.

Thank you for clarifying the issue so well, MNlad!

[Walkman]

While you may think it is an American special day, it is observed in other countries as well and commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath.

The Declaration of Arbroath is a declaration of Scottish independence, made in 1320. It is in the form of a letter submitted to Pope John XXII, dated 6 April 1320, intended to confirm Scotland's status as an independent, sovereign state and defending Scotland's right to use military action when unjustly attacked.

Generally believed to have been written in the Arbroath Abbey by Bernard of Kilwinning, then Chancellor of Scotland and Abbot of Arbroath,[1] and sealed by fifty-one magnates and nobles, the letter is the sole survivor of three created at the time. The others were a letter from the King of Scots, Robert I, and a letter from four Scottish bishops which all presumably made similar points.

Thanks for the background information Fr Bill. I for one did not know the reason that April 6th was selected for Tartan Day and it has much more significance now that I do. I have to remark, however, that the OP never said it was "an American Special Day", he said it was a national holiday, which it is here in the US. That does not mean that the day isn't recognized elsewhere, or that Americans wouldn't celebrate the fact that it is celebrated elsewhere. You seem to be taking offense when none was given.

[Jock Scot]

Meanwhile back in Scotland, I suspect the 6th of April will just be another day for most of us with no idea or thought of the assorted historical significance.

[Walkman]

Meanwhile back in Scotland, I suspect the 6th of April will just be another day for most of us with no idea or thought of the assorted historical significance.

That's too bad, Jock. Maybe the Scots in diaspora, i.e., the descendants of Scots who fought in the uprisings and were summarily deported, or were thereafter deported during the Highland clearances, aren't just ignorant colonials after all.