Friday, April 6th is Tartan Day in the U.S.A. From the website for The Association of Scottish Games and Festivals we read, Since the United States Congress gave all Americans an official Tartan Day on April 6th of each year, it behooves those of us with a drop or two of Scottish blood to take full advantage of the opportunity to share our cultural heritage in a positive manner with our local communities. And, perhaps, give a bit of publicity to the fact that we are also promoting Highland Games and Festivals somewhere along the line.
Many individual states had Tartan Days on their own calendars. But an effort was put forth to get a National one adopted, and April 6th was chosen because it is the anniversary of the declaration of Scottish Independence at Abroath Abbey in 1320. A line from that document is often quoted and has great appeal to the American psyche: "For we fight not for glory, no riches, no honours, but for freedom alone, which no good man gives up except with his life."
Many individual states had Tartan Days on their own calendars. But an effort was put forth to get a National one adopted, and April 6th was chosen because it is the anniversary of the declaration of Scottish Independence at Abroath Abbey in 1320. A line from that document is often quoted and has great appeal to the American psyche: "For we fight not for glory, no riches, no honours, but for freedom alone, which no good man gives up except with his life."
As this year it falls on Good Friday many celebrations will be later in the month. Check here for your area. Take a peek here for Scotland's Tartan Day events. And finally, you can read the Declaration of Arbroath here.
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