SCOTSIN - SCOTLAND: Tartan Day 2007

SCOTLAND: Tartan Day 2007

Written by Scotland.org

Wednesday, 07 May 2008

Scotland as a country has much to be proud of. As Churchill once said, " Of all the world's small nations on earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind." Our ancestors have travelled the globe and left a lasting impression wherever they roamed.

The success of our diaspora is visible in the fact that every year Scotland is celebrated throughout the world from New Zealand and Estonia to Germany and Hawaii. One of the biggest of these celebrations is Tartan Week in New York where Americans with Scottish ancestry throng to the city to celebrate their proud history. Over a two week period there is so much to see including cool Scottish bands, fashion shows, traditional concerts and literary exhibitions. The week is centred around the Scottish Village at Central Station, where visitors can learn all about Scotland, research their ancestry and much, much more.

So where and when did this worldwide love affair with Scotland begin and what can visitors to Tartan Week NY in particular look forward to?

On the first day . . .
Tartan Day was originally the idea of Jean Watson who petitioned throughout Canada for its recognition in the 1980's. Thanks to her powers of persuassion, the Province of Nova Scotia did so in 1987. Other provinces began to recognise the day during the 1990s and now almost all the Canadian provinces officially recognise the day. In Australia and New Zealand, it is held on July 1, the anniversary of the repeal of the Act of Proscription in 1782.

Jean would be proud to see that in 2007, Tartan Day will be celebrated in France, Argentina and many, many more countries. Probably the biggest of the worldwide celebrations is in New York, but where did the Scottish and American relationship begin?

Scotland and The USA
The first Scots began emigrating to America in the early 1600's. During the Cromwellian Civil War in Britain, many Scots were transported to the American Colonies in the mid-1600's. The Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745 also saw many Scotsmen transported to America. The Highland Clearances, where many of the indigenous population were displaced from their ancient ways, lead to mass emigration of Scots to America. However, wherever the populations of Scottish people settled around the world, they always took with them their Scottish languages and culture.

To commemorate the monumental achievements and invaluable contributions made by Scottish Americans, in 1998 the US Senate designated 6 April each year as Tartan Day. The date was chosen as it was the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320. This resolution honors the major role that Scottish Americans played in the founding of America, - almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent and the Governors in nine of the original thirteen states were of Scottish ancestry.

There are today more than 400 organizations throughout the United States that honor Scottish heritage, tradition, and culture, representing the millions of Americans of Scottish descent. These Scottish-American groups play a vital role in maintaining and strengthening those bilateral relations. With their annual highland games and Scottish dancing competitions, the impassioned work of these societies ensures that Scotland is never too far from home.

The Birth of National Tartan Day
National Tartan Day in the USA had a humble beginning in 1998, when 2 pipe bands and a spirited group of Scottish Americans, including Cliff Robertson, walked from the British Consulate to the United Nations. The parade has evolved today to include many bands and over 2000 participants!!

The day is run by The National Tartan Day New York Committee. The Committee was created in 2002 in order to help organize New York City's Tartan Day Parade, help perpetuate Tartan Day and coordinate New York's activities, which have now grown into a 'Tartan Week'. The Committee was founded by three New York based Scottish organizations: Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York 1756; New York Caledonian Club, 1856; and American Scottish Foundation, 1956. Two additional organizations, Clan Campbell Society and the New York Police Pipes and Drums were later additions to the Committee.

Thanks to our shared history, up to 20 million Americans today claim Scottish ancestry and both the Tartan Day parade and the events throughout Tartan Week New York are amongst the highlights in the US calendar. With a broader spectrum of events than ever before, what can visitors to this year's Tartan Week New York 2007 expect?

Tartan Week NY 2007
Scottish based bands are making waves right across the world and America in particular. www.myspace.com/tartanweek There isn't a tv show that doesn't have music by Franz Ferdinand, KT Tunstall or some hot new Scottish band. To celebrate the best of new music in Scotland, we have an evening called Scotland Rocks New York. This year the line up is as cool as ever with Sons and Daughters and The 1990s. We also have DJ sets from trailblazers of the Scottish music scene, Belle and Sebastian and Mogwai. Local Support from Nicole Atkins and The Sea. (www.scotlandrocksnewyork.com.) This will be a night not to miss.

Now, the Scots have always had a eye for fashion. At Dressed to Kilt you could enjoy Scottish fashion with a catwalk show of traditional and highly contemporary kilts from leather to cashmere no less. (www.dressedtokilt.com) There's also fashion and lots more at the Scottish Village from 31st March to 8th April at Grand Central Station.

One of the biggest events is clearly the Tartan Day Parade on 6th Avenue. Join in the celebration of Tartan Week – come and wave the saltire flag and marvel at the spectacle of pipers and drummers parading on Manhattan's Sixth Avenue. An annual event since the first Tartan Day in 1999, this years' Parade promises to be bigger and better than ever. (www.tartanweek.com)

This is only a snapshot of the events running at Tartan Week. If you're wondering where to begin or how you can find out more about the Scottish events, please go to www.tartanweekny.com. Here you will find everything you need to know, with details of how you can buy tickets for events. If you are in the area why not pop along to the fantastic Scottish Village at Grand Central. For the golfers among you, there is a golf zone which will tell you everything you need to know about golf in Scotland – the home of golf.

If you want to keep in touch with how events are going, who attended what party or what is coming up, you can log in to our very own blog at www.tartanweek.blogspot.com. It is a fun guide to the week's festivities.

For a taste of the Tartan Week NY, view our video of the celebrations here.

Further Information:

Courtesy of Scottish Government - Scotland.org .

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