BBC Correspondent Blogs about Kilts & Tartan Week

[Jock Scot]

There you go,you did it in your own way and a good time was had by all.Even the BBC reporter had a good time,but and I repeat but he still feels it is not our way of doing things.Each to their own and it harms no one.

[macwilkin]

There you go,you did it in your own way and a good time was had by all.Even the BBC reporter had a good time,but and I repeat but he still feels it is not our way of doing things.Each to their own and it harms no one.

I don't think there's anything wrong with saying that the Tartan Day parade is an "American" innovation, because quite frankly, it is. (Tartan Day itself actually has its origins in Canada, btw.) After all, the first St. Patrick's Day parade was in the American colonies.

I view Tartan Day in the same way I view St. Andrew's Societies, the Sons of Italy/Norway, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and ethnic/immigrant communities in general -- these are ways that immigrants and their descendents maintain ties to the old country. As the author stated, there's no reason for Scots to celebrate "being Scots" in Scotland via parades, as there really would be no reason for a Norwegian to join an immigrant aid society in Oslo.

I know several Scots expats here in the states who never wore the kilt until they came to the USA, btw.

As long as there is mutual respect for "different countries, different customs", then she'll be right.

Regards,

Todd