Tartan Day in the U.S.of A

[macwilkin]

I can't speak for most of the US, just for myself. But until I joined this board, I had never heard of it. I can not recall any big happenings or celebrations in the Atlanta area. Of course, since I don't read the local paper, who knows?

Atlanta has a fairly active Scottish community, including the Atlanta St. Andrew's Society, a Burns Club and even a replica of Robert Burns's cottage.

http://www.standrewsatlanta.org/

http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/bur.htm

I have no doubt there are Tartan Day celebrations there -- check wi' the folks at the first link.

T.

[Splash_4]

Atlanta has a fairly active Scottish community, including the Atlanta St. Andrew's Society, a Burns Club and even a replica of Robert Burns's cottage.

http://www.standrewsatlanta.org/

http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/bur.htm

I have no doubt there are Tartan Day celebrations there -- check wi' the folks at the first link.

T.

Thanks for the links.... It is what I was stating earlier, just my ignorance.

[starbkjrus]

I had never heard of Tartan Day until I found this board. This year it was raining a torrent so I did not go to the parade but I did go to hear the pipers at a pub in Alexandria Virgina afterwards. It was jammed with tartan clad celebrants, many of whom HAD gone to the parade.

I have to assume it was not advertised widely in the Washington DC area but the St. Andrew's Society and others had spread the news by word of mouth.

[auld argonian]

It's good that the St. Andrew's Societies have celebrations but I wonder if the average person feels that Tartan Day is limited to members of the Societies.

Love to see a campaign of historical information about the influence of the Scots in the framing of the American Democracy and Scottish Americans of note. It should probably be Tartan MONTH rather than Day.

Best

AA

[beloitpiper]

It's good that the St. Andrew's Societies have celebrations but I wonder if the average person feels that Tartan Day is limited to members of the Societies.

I'm not a member, but that has never deterred me! But I think you're right, some people may be shy about asking whether the celebration is open to the public. As the newly elected President of the Celtic Society at Beloit College, I'm working really hard to create awareness of Tartan Day on campus and throught the town.

[macwilkin]

It's good that the St. Andrew's Societies have celebrations but I wonder if the average person feels that Tartan Day is limited to members of the Societies.

Love to see a campaign of historical information about the influence of the Scots in the framing of the American Democracy and Scottish Americans of note. It should probably be Tartan MONTH rather than Day.

Best

AA

The majority of the programs presented on Tartan Day are open the public, and in the case of some, such as the Missouri Tartan Day parade in St. Charles, the public cannot help but take notice of the occasion, since the parade goes up historic Main Street! Other groups send volunteers into the schools and to community organizations to speak on the holiday and its significance.

And many groups do sponsor programs that highlight many of the themes that you mention, especially the Scottish-American connection.

I should point out, though, that St. Andrew's/Scottish societies are overwhelmingly all volunteer organizations (save larger ones like in Chicago, NY and DC) and can only do so much. And even then, the news media doesn't always print press releases, etc. -- I am the Public Information Officer for our society, and the local fishwrap is very inconsistent in publishing our information -- and I was a journalism minor in university, and had classes on how to write press releases. Thankfully we have a connection inside the newspaper now.

We can always use more volunteers, AA -- I'm sure the St. Andrew's Society of Illinois could find a job for you!

T.

[auld argonian]

When I suggest putting out historical information, I guess that I'm thinking in terms of little television spots like those that we here get in Black History Month and Hispanic History Month. I know that these amount to "sound bites" but they would just put a little bit more information out in the public's way. Tartan Day gets very little coverage in Chicago...it gets lost in the crowd of ethnic "days" here in a city that has just about everything except "Canadian Day"...

We recently ran a month celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Louis Sullivan through the City Council.

Best

AA

[Cawdorian]

[quote=cajunscot;305150]Atlanta has a fairly active Scottish community, including the Atlanta St. Andrew's Society, a Burns Club and even a replica of Robert Burns's cottage.

http://www.standrewsatlanta.org/

The St. Andrew's Society of Atlanta does indeed celebrate National Tartan Day. Click on the above link and look at the section called "Scottish Community Events".

[sirdaniel1975]

Those that know and care, take part in whatever way they are able. It is a holiday, but not one of the holiday's where schools, banks, & post offices close. And the media coverage is short at best, so the effect is most don't even know of it's existance.

However, there are cities that celebrate.. Like NY, here in Franklin, NC, etc.. and some of the cities mentioned above in other posts.

Unfortunately, it's not a big enough holiday where the masses are capable of having the day off from work in order to participate in the fashion as to what is truly needed.

Then there are the employers who would send employees home for wearing a kilt to work on Tartan Day, because they wouldn't recognize it as an actual holiday.

So, there is still alot that needs to be done... People like us, clan Societies, and other Scottish societies are the major participants. It's just going to take time, and we all have to be both patient and persistent.

[Bill]

I plan to write an open letter to the Editor of our local newspaper concerning Tartan Day its' origin and purpose and encourage folks to observe the day.

BTW I just noticed that Tartan Day falls on Good Friday this coming year due to an early Easter date. I'm thinking that is going to cause some problems as far as celebrations are concerned but not with the wearn' O' the Tartan. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Bill