Kirkin' of the Tartan

[Prester John]

... in nearly 70 years of living,one way or another, in the Western Highlands ...

Ah, now that sounds nice!

I've often thought about looking into a move to Scotia...maybe someday.

[ChattanCat]

I would like to thank CPO Bull for posting. You have sparked some interest and I want to thank you for your opposing view-point. My original question was simple: Was it really an American inspired tradition? What I got was a fabulous lesson(s) in Scottish history.

Thanks to everyone,

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Back in 1972-'73 I assistedd Col. Douglas B. MacMullen in organizing what may have been the first "Kirkin" in Los Angeles. One of the members of the local St. Andrew's Society asked the colonel if it was an ancient Scottish custom. Doug looked at the person, thought for a moment and, as I recall, replied, "It dates back to Washington D.C. in 1941. Does that make it ancient enough for you?" Frankly, until I read this thread, I had never heard of the "Kirkin" being anything other than a wholly American custom (I think it takes a hundred years for a custom to be come a tradition).

[gilmore]

...(I think it takes a hundred years for a custom to be come a tradition).

It depends on where you are. In Europe it may take 100 years. In most of the US it takes doing something annually two years in a row. In California it takes maybe 15 minutes.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I've noticed that a lot of Presbyterian churches who buy tartan cloth from us for banners to used in Kirkin's celebrate the Kirkin' of the Tartans on 'Reformation Sunday,' and always wondered why the connection.

Of course, in our tradition we celebrate the Vigil of All Saint's Day (aka All Saints, or "All Hallows" Eve) on that date. Just call us old fashioned.... :-)

[macwilkin]

I've noticed that a lot of Presbyterian churches who buy tartan cloth from us for banners to used in Kirkin's celebrate the Kirkin' of the Tartans on 'Reformation Sunday,' and always wondered why the connection.

Of course, in our tradition we celebrate the Vigil of All Saint's Day (aka All Saints, or "All Hallows" Eve) on that date. Just call us old fashioned.... :-)

Matt,

Not to go too "off-topic", but many Presbyterians also celebrate All Saint's Day. I know the congregation I attended as a child did.

Todd

[Carolina Kiltman]

Locally, it seems that just about any occasion will be an excuse for the "kirking o the tartan". The Presbyterian Church across the street from me does it on the
Sunday after R. Burn's birthday. . . . there was also one the Sunday after the late Flora MacDonald games in Red Springs, and there were a couple of others around here in other Presbyterian Churches as part of their "Old Fashioned Home Comings, a few weeks back.

It is a nice service, I especially like the roll call of the Clans.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I've also noticed a lot of Presbyterian Churches seem to celebrate the Kirkin' of the Tartans to mark the anniversary of their church's establishment.

(Or in conjunction with a local Highland Games or Scottish festival, if there is one).

[macwilkin]

I've also noticed a lot of Presbyterian Churches seem to celebrate the Kirkin' of the Tartans to mark the anniversary of their church's establishment.

(Or in conjunction with a local Highland Games or Scottish festival, if there is one).

For Episcopalians, November seems to be a popular kirkin' month for:

St. Margaret of Scotland (Nov. 16)
St. Andrew (Nov. 30)
The consecration of the Rt. Rev. Samuel Seabury (Nov. 14)

The last date refers to the first American Episcopal Bishop, who was consecrated by three Scottish Episcopal Bishops in Aberdeen in 1784.

Regards,

Todd

[Carolina Kiltman]

For Episcopalians, November seems to be a popular kirkin' month for:

St. Margaret of Scotland (Nov. 16)
St. Andrew (Nov. 30)
The consecration of the Rt. Rev. Samuel Seabury (Nov. 14)

The last date refers to the first American Episcopal Bishop, who was consecrated by three Scottish Episcopal Bishops in Aberdeen in 1784.

Regards,

Todd

This is how the Anglican (Episcopal Church) in the new US got its bishops consecrated. The Scots were "non jurors" that is they had not taken an oath of loyalty to the Crown of England as the English bishops had.

You can imagine the furor in my Grandparent's family when my Mother, born in Tobermory, Mull married a Roman Catholic American some 21 years older than she was. . . . It took over 20 years for her Father to get over it, her Mother never did. No more family history now.