What is Tartan Day? FAQ
- What is Tartan Day?
- The Short answer – St. Patrick's Day for Scots without the green beer.
A more complete answer, of course, like the Irish and St. Patrick's Day, it is a day set aside specifically for American's of Scottish descent to celebrate their heritage, their culture, their pride in the accomplishments of Scottish Americans in our State and in our Nation. Elsewhere on the internet you can find sites that will tell you how many presidents have Scottish Blood, the theories, not all proven abut the connection between Scottish Documents and the Declaration of Independence. It is our day. Our day to celebrate, to take pride in our Scottishness. - Why is it on April 6?
- Good question. Many dates were debated – St. Andrew's Day (November 30), the Battle of Bannockburn (June 23), the Battle of Stirling Bridge (September 11, 1297 - guess we're glad they didn't pick that date). April 6 was eventually chosen because it was on that date in 1320 that the Declaration of Arbroath was signed. The Declaration of Arbroath was a declaration of Scottish independence, and set out to confirm Scotland's status as an independent, sovereign state and its use of military action when unjustly attacked. It is in the form of a letter submitted to Pope John XXII, dated 6 April 1320. Sealed by fifty-one magnates and nobles, the letter is the sole survivor of three created at the time.
Perhaps the best known passage from the Declaration and the one dear to the hearts of Scots throughout the world is... ...for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself. - Who started this Tartan Day business, anyway?
- On December 19th 1991, in response to action initiated by the Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada, the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming April 6th as Tartan Day, following the example of other Canadian provinces. America followed suit on March 20th 1998, when Senate Resolution 155 (S.Res. 155), proposed by US Senate Republican majority leader Trent Lott, was passed unanimously.
- So how long has this been going on in Minnesota?
- Our first celebration, a small group of enthusiastic clan members, Scottish society members, pipers and members of Clann Tartan, gathered in the Rotunda at the State capitol in St. Paul at noon on April 6, 1999.
The celebrations have grown each year with more and more participants from all parts of the great state of Minnesota. We moved our celebration to the steps a couple of years ago as we are not allowed music inside the rotunda when the legislature is in session. A little bagpipe music might help the situation there a lot.
Each year we have requested and received from the Governors of Minnesota a proclamation declaring April 6 Tartan Day in Minnesota. We have dodged snow banks, leaned into the wind, basked in the bright sunshine, carried on in the face of ambulance sirens, and just once - last year - were we rained out and had to move the celebration into the rotunda.
Visit our Photo Gallery for a splendid collection of photos over the years. - But wait! I have more questions?
- Visit our Contact Us page or our forums and send us your questions. We will do our best to provide an intelligent and timely response.
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