89-634: Tartan Day is celebration of Scottish heritage and the cultural contributions of Scottish and Scottish-diaspora figures of history. The name refers to tartan , a patterned woollen cloth associated with Scotland. The event originated in Nova Scotia , Canada, in 1987. It spread to other communities of the Scottish diaspora and Scotland itself in the 1990s to 2000s. National Tartan Day , or just Tartan Day, in Canada (since 1987, officially and nationally since 2010),
178-687: A Diaspora Engagement Plan published in 2010 which includes other countries. Scottish businesses have integrated Tartan Day/Week into their marketing efforts, both online and at the events. A few examples include: the tartan weaver and women's clothier Prickly Thistle, of Evanton and Edinburgh; the Gin Bothy distillery in Glamis ; Harris Tweed Textiles on the Isle of Lewis ; the Johnnie Walker distillery ( Kilmarnock / London); Walker's Shortbread ( Aberlour );
267-717: A "Tartan Day" to promote Scottish heritage in Canada was proposed at a meeting of the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia (the name of which is Latin for 'New Scotland'); the first event was held April 6, 1987. After a period of adoption by provinces and territories of Canada , a National Tartan Day of April 6 was declared in 2010. In Australia, wearing tartan on July 1 has been encouraged since 1989. The day has been promoted as International Tartan Day in Australia since 1996 and has been formally recognized by some states, but not at
356-458: A centre of royal patronage the tradition of Scots poetry subsided. It was revived after union with England in 1707 by figures including Allan Ramsay , Robert Fergusson and James Macpherson . The latter's Ossian Cycle made him the first Scottish poet to gain an international reputation. He helped inspire Robert Burns , considered by many to be the national poet, and Walter Scott , whose Waverley Novels did much to define Scottish identity in
445-656: A commemoration" because the dates of the parade (on a Saturday nearest April 6 but rarely April 6 itself) are not meaningful to Scots, and because, she stated, the connection between the Declaration of Arbroath and the Declaration of Independence "is faint at best". McIntosh recommended starting over to create a new, grassroots and international, diaspora-driven holiday. The Scotsman also that year quoted an anonymous promoter in Edinburgh saying that Tartan Day "doesn't resonate with young Scots", including designers who will not attend
534-619: A delegation to the 2023 New York event, including MSPs Alison Johnstone (the presiding officer), Finlay Carson , and Collette Stevenson , who also visited the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa and the National Assembly of Québec . Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell attended the New York event in 2002 "to make sure that Scotland is promoted at the highest level during a time when
623-539: A fashion show and charity ball organized by Friends of Scotland, featuring tartaned and kilted celebrities. The event has not been without some criticism. Susan McIntosh, a former president of the Council of Scottish Clans & Associations (based in North Carolina) said in 2015 that the event was too thinly attended and media-covered, given its potential, compared to other ethnic celebrations, and an "unfortunate mongrel of
712-412: A gathering of clans , a golf tournament, archery competition, literary and storytelling events, medieval reenactments, traditional piping and other music, dance (competitive and participatory), regional history exhibitions and presentations, and craft workshops. From 2004 through 2013, the city of Aberdeen also organized a Tartan Day, though in 2016 it changed into a charity walkathon fundraiser named
801-456: A medium for serious literature. Members of the movement were followed by a new generation of post-war poets including Edwin Morgan , who would be appointed the first Scots Makar by the inaugural Scottish government in 2004. From the 1980s Scottish literature enjoyed another major revival, particularly associated with writers including James Kelman and Irvine Welsh . Scottish poets who emerged in
890-599: A national level. The first (unofficial) national-level Tartan Day in the US was observed an April 6, 1997, growing from county- and state-level observance inspired by Canadian events. The holiday was approved by the US Senate in 1998, the House of Representatives in 2005, and the President in 2008. Similar events in other countries appear to have been inspired by those in Canada, Australia, and
979-604: A presentation from Chris Thomson, head of the Scottish Government USA consular team. The UK Government 's parliamentary under-secretary of state for Scotland , John Lamont , also attended the New York Tartan Day events of 2023, including a roundtable organized by the UK Department for Business and Trade . The Scottish Government has promoted Scottish culture and talent at foreign Tartan Days/Weeks, including
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#17328595119031068-509: A proposal by Bill Crowell and Jean MacKeracher-Watson at a meeting of the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia on March 9, 1986. MacKeracher-Watson, president of the Clan Lamont Society of Canada, petitioned provincial legislatures to recognize April 6 as Tartan Day. The first such proclamation was by Nova Scotia in April 1987. On December 19, 1991, in response to action initiated by
1157-477: A region that includes Arbroath , established the first Tartan Day festival in Scotland on April 6, 2004, and has since joined other regional councils in attempting to develop its potential as a global celebration. The Angus event, like that in New York, has developed into a full Tartan Week, and has included activities such as exhibitions of local arts and crafts, a farmer's market, local food vendors and formal dinners,
1246-555: A second Sarasota meeting in 1997 to more formally establish a National Tartan Day. In 1998, the efforts of the coalition and the Caledonian Foundation (led then by JoAnne Phipps), with the legislative sponsorship of Senator Trent Lott , resulted in United States Senate Resolution No. 155 (introduced March 6, 1998) to adopt April 6 as National Tartan Day. The resolution passed March 20, 1998, "to recognize
1335-547: A single Tartan Day; e.g., the 7th annual event of 2009 was organized for the "sister" cities of Eu , Mers-les-Bains , and Le Tréport on the borders of Normandy and Picardy ; the 2007 edition also included Criel-sur-Mer . Events included a beachfront parade, musical concerts, piping competitions, Highland games, kilt fashion show, and a Franco-Scottish economic roundtable. Organizers claimed attendance from Brittany , Normandy and elsewhere in France, Scotland, Ireland , Wales , and
1424-509: A strand of "Scottish realism". Moffat's influence can be seen in the work of the "new Glasgow Boys" from the late twentieth century. In the twenty-first century Scotland has continued to produce successful and influential such as Douglas Gordon , David Mach , Susan Philipsz and Richard Wright . Scotland possess significant collections of art, such as the National Gallery of Scotland and National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and
1513-486: A tourism, study-abroad, and immigration website partnership between various departments of the government and industry associations, has publicized diasporic Tartan Day events, including 23 across the US, though the website no longer provides a detailed catalog of events as of 2023, and just has general information about Canadian Tartan Day and New York Tartan Week. The Scotlish Government's involvement in Tartan Day/Week
1602-541: Is also the home of curling , and shinty , a stick game similar to Ireland's hurling . Scotland has 4 professional ice hockey teams that compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League . Scottish cricket is a minority game. The earliest extant literature written in what is now Scotland, was composed in Brythonic speech in the sixth century and has survived as part of Welsh literature . In the following centuries there
1691-577: Is celebrated on a regional basis in most states on 1 July (or by some community organizations on the nearest Sunday), the anniversary of the Repeal Proclamation of 1782 annulling the Act of Proscription 1746 and its Dress Act, which had made wearing Highland dress (by males) an offense in the Highlands, punishable by up to seven years' penal transportation . According to Scottish House secretary Moyna Scotland,
1780-471: Is connected with other governmental works, including GlobalScot (founded 2001), an international business network to help Scottish businesses and entrepreneurs with worldwide business connections; and Scottish Connections Framework , (since 2023), a program for outreach to members of the diaspora who want "to live, work, study, visit, or do business in Scotland". The Tartan Day/Week activities also interrelate with Scotland's US Engagement Strategy of 2017, and
1869-757: Is derived from Gothic and horror literature (notably Shelley 's Frankenstein and Stoker 's Dracula ), and classic horror films (such as Hammer Horrors ). Mass transatlantic Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century popularized Halloween in North America. Scotland also has its own unique family of languages and dialects, helping to foster a strong sense of "Scottish-ness". See Scots language and Scottish Gaelic language . An organisation called Iomairt Cholm Cille (Columba Project) has been set up to support Gaelic-speaking communities in both Scotland and Ireland and to promote links between them. Forms of Christianity have dominated religious life in what
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#17328595119031958-945: Is held in various states of Australia (from 1989, with varying levels of official recognition) and in New Zealand (unofficially since 2008) on July 1, the anniversary of the repeal of the Dress Act 1746 , which had banned the male wearing of Highland dress in much of Scotland. Related unofficial events in France (since 2002) have been held on varying days of the year, often also celebrating Breton culture . Tartan Day has expanded into an entire Tartan Week in New York City and Angus, and into multi-day events in some other locations, including Washington, DC. The name Scotland Week has also been promoted in both Scotland and Australia. The events typically have parades of pipe bands , Highland dancing , and other Scottish-themed activities. On March 9, 1986,
2047-567: Is now the Scotland for more than 1,400 years. Scotland retains its own national church , separate from that of England. See Church of Scotland and Religion in the United Kingdom . There is also a large minority of Roman Catholics , around 16% of the population. The patron saint of Scotland is Saint Andrew , and Saint Andrew's Day is celebrated in Scotland on 30 November. Saint (Queen) Margaret , Saint Columba and Saint Ninian have also historically enjoyed great popularity. As one of
2136-500: Is usually a Scotland-native celebrity (actor Gail Porter in 2023), but has occasionally been a Scottish American. The parade includes pipe bands (typically around 3,000 bagpipers in total), and contingents from clan societies, Highland games organizers, Scottish-American societies, the New York Mounted Police, alumni clubs of Scottish universities, and Scotland's tourism board, VisitScotland . Activities and events other than
2225-786: The Daily Record (Scotland's leading tabloid ), the broadsheet The Herald , based in Glasgow , and The Scotsman in Edinburgh . Sunday newspapers include the tabloid Sunday Mail (published by Daily Record parent company Trinity Mirror) and the Sunday Post , while the Sunday Herald and Scotland on Sunday have associations with The Herald and The Scotsman respectively. Regional dailies include The Courier and Advertiser in Dundee and
2314-819: The Bank of Scotland , the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank . Scotland competes in sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup . Scotland does not compete in the Olympic Games independently however, and in athletics , Scotland has competed for the Celtic Cup, against teams from Wales and Ireland, since the inaugural event in 2006. Scotland is the "Home of Golf ", and is well known for its courses. As well as its world-famous Highland Games (athletic competitions), it
2403-665: The Burrell Collection and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. Significant schools of art include the Edinburgh College of Art and the Glasgow School of Art . The major funding body with responsibility for the arts in Scotland is Creative Scotland . Support is also given by local councils and independent foundations. Scotland is internationally known for its traditional music, which remained vibrant throughout
2492-586: The Celtic nations , Scotland is represented at interceltic events at home and around the world. Scotland is host to two interceltic music festivals – the Scottish Arts Council funded Celtic Connections , Glasgow, and the Hebridean Celtic Festival , Stornoway – that were founded in the mid-1990s. Scottish culture is also represented at interceltic festivals of music and culture worldwide. Among
2581-692: The Confederation of British Industry ; and Peter Wilson, president of Great Scot International, a wholesale supplier of Scottish goods to US retailers, were all presenters at the Washington, DC, Tartan Day Sympoisum in 2023. SBN, Scottish Development International, and British–American Business Network have all been directly involved in Tartan Day activities in Texas. SNB's "The New York Scottish Challenge" business seminar for Scottish entrepreneurs includes representation in
2670-687: The Isle of Man . This particular series of Tartan Day events appears to have ended in 2009. Tartan day has also been celebrated in Paris for several years, organized by the Kilt Society de France. A one-off event was held in Brocéliande (Paimpont) forest before 2015. Starting in 2015, there had also been an annual event in Brittany, called Breizh Tartan Deizh ('Breton Tartan Day' in the Breton language ); this event
2759-723: The Kilt ( Journée du kilt ) and Festival of Scotland and the Kilt ( Fête de l’Ecosse et du kilt ), was held in France. Originally founded by Richard and Marie Laure, the event developed into a collaboration between L’Équipe du France Celtic Tartan Day (a not-for-profit organization formed for the purpose by its president Jean-François Rebiffé) and Jeux Ecossais de Luzarches (the Highland games association in Luzarches ). The locations have varied by year, and have sometimes been spread over three days instead of
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2848-471: The Kilt walk (run by a registered charitable organization), which has since spread to Edinburgh , Glasgow , and Dundee in Scotland (held at different dates throughout the year so as not to conflict), and, for a one-off event, to New York City in the US. From 2017 through 2022, the Scottish Government's official Scotland.org portal site had re-branded Tartan Day/Week as "Scotland Week" for marketing
2937-571: The Labor Party , and Australia's allegedly "egalitarian and meritocratic" society. In 2008, Scottish culture minister Linda Fabiani floated a proposal to expand the Australian event into an official Scotland Week as part of the Scottish government's international business strategy. About 15.1% or 4.7 million Canadians claim Scottish descent . Tartan Day ( French : Journée du Tartan ) in Canada, first held in Nova Scotia in 1987, originated with
3026-657: The National Theatre of Scotland , the National Trust for Scotland , the National Galleries Scotland , and Scottish universities. The government has also sponsored the annual 10K Scotland Run (with a trip to Edinburgh as the prize) during Tartan Week in New York City since 2004. In 2005, the government lent the Wallace Sword – an artifact purported to have been wielded by Scottish hero William Wallace in
3115-476: The Renaissance can be seen in stone carving and painting from the fifteenth century. In the sixteenth century the crown began to employ Flemish court painters who have left a portrait record of royalty. The Reformation removed a major source of patronage for art, limited the level of public display, but may have helped in the growth of secular domestic forms, particularly elaborate painting of roofs and walls. In
3204-532: The Salmon Scotland trade association (Edinburgh); and Scotch Whisky Association (Edinburgh). For 2022, the Stirling -based Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce alone sent 13 Scottish businesses to the New York parade, including Angels' Share Glass, Ardgowan Distillery, Ochil Fudge Pantry, and Quirky Chocolate. Ian Houston, president of the trade association Scottish Business Network (SBN); John Bleed, US director of
3293-439: The bannock , stovies , Scotch broth , tattie scone and shortbread . Scotland is also known for its Scotch whisky distilleries , as well as for Scottish beer . The soft drink Irn-Bru is cited by its manufacturer A.G. Barr as Scotland's 'other' national drink owing to its large market share in Scotland outselling major international brands such as Coca-Cola. Scotland has a strong philosophical tradition. Duns Scotus
3382-420: The 13th to early 14th centuries – for Tartan Week display at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The sword had never before left Scotland in modern times. VisitScotland , the Scottish tourism board, has a contingent in the annual New York Tartan Day parade, and also hosts side events sponsored by and featuring Scottish brands. Scotland.org, variously branded "Gateway to Scotland" and "Scotland Is Now",
3471-504: The 15th year that the pipe band has hosted the event. Canada's official tartan is the Maple Leaf tartan, designed in 1964 became an official national symbol in March 2011 ahead of Tartan Day. In 2015, Minister of Canadian Heritage Shelly Glover issued a statement in support of National Tartan Day and the Maple Leaf tartan, and tied the event to celebration that year of the 200th anniversary of
3560-579: The 19th century. Towards the end of the Victorian era a number of Scottish-born authors achieved international reputations, including Robert Louis Stevenson , Arthur Conan Doyle , J. M. Barrie and George MacDonald . In the 20th century there was a surge of activity in Scottish literature, known as the Scottish Renaissance . The leading figure, Hugh MacDiarmid , attempted to revive the Scots language as
3649-569: The 20th century and into the 21st, when many traditional forms worldwide lost popularity to pop music. In spite of emigration and a well-developed connection to music imported from the rest of Europe and the United States, the music of Scotland has kept many of its traditional aspects; indeed, it has itself influenced many forms of music. Scotland's media are partly separate from the rest of the UK. For example, Scotland has several national newspapers, such as
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3738-539: The 5th Potters Bar Scout Group wear the scarf ( neckerchief ) officially, with permission from the Queen, and the Queen's Bands (of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada) wear the tartan as part of their official uniforms. The tartan may also be worn by members who took part in a patrol leaders training course. In 1968, the pipes and drums of the 3rd battalion, Royal Australian Regiment , were also given permission to wear
3827-691: The British monarch, presently King Charles III . The sett was first published in 1831 in the book The Scottish Gaël by James Logan . Officially, the tartan is worn by the pipers of the Black Watch , Royal Scots Dragoon Guards , and the Scots Guards , as well as a select few civilian groups like the Glasgow Police Pipe Band and the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band. The 5th Bolton Scout Group and
3916-401: The Caledonian Foundation, and Neil Fraser of the Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada, among others, proposed nationalizing the idea in the US, to unanimous approval of the attendees. After promotional advertisements were placed in heritage and genealogy publications including The Highlander , Scottish Life , and Family Tree , the first (unofficial) Tartan Day in the United States observed at
4005-432: The Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada, the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming 6 April as Tartan Day, following the example of some other Canadian provinces. Tartan Day has since been proclaimed by all the provincial legislatures. In 2007, Peter Stoffer introduced a private member's bill for "An Act respecting a Tartan Day". Progress of the bill was interrupted by the 2008 election ; resubmitted after
4094-425: The Royal Stewart tartan. Theoretically, this tartan should not be worn without the express permission of the British monarch. However, the Scottish Register of Tartans observes that in practice, due to its popularity, it has become a universal tartan, which can be worn by anyone who doesn't have their own clan tartan. "In the same way that clansmen wear the tartan of their chief, it is appropriate for all subjects of
4183-399: The Scottish Australian Heritage Council began to encourage Australians to wear tartan on July 1, when more than half a million Australians gather for a celebration of Scottish heritage, combining nostalgia with Australian citizenship ceremonies, and fund-raising for charitable causes such as drought assistance. Australians without a family tartan are invited to wear the royal Stewart tartan or
4272-474: The Scottish variant of BBC One , the BBC Scotland channel and Gaelic-language TV channel BBC Alba . Much of the output of BBC Scotland Television, such as news and current affairs programmes, and the Glasgow-based soap opera, River City , are intended for broadcast within Scotland, while others, such as drama and comedy programmes, aim at audiences throughout the UK and further afield. Two ITV stations, STV and ITV , also broadcast in Scotland. Most of
4361-473: The Tartan Day parade. Culture of Scotland The culture of Scotland refers to the patterns of human activity and symbolism associated with Scotland and the Scottish people . The Scottish flag is blue with a white saltire , and represents the cross of Saint Andrew . Scotland retains Scots Law , its own unique legal system, based on Roman law , which combines features of both civil law and common law . The terms of union with England specified
4450-553: The US, and date from the 2000s or later. Argentina has around 100,000 people of Scottish descent , the largest such community outside the English-speaking world. The Tartan Day parade of Scottish porteños was inaugurated in Buenos Aires on 6 April 2006 and is organized by the Scottish Argentine Society every year. A symbolic key to the gate of Arbroath's Abbey is carried to mark the date in 1320 that inspired this celebration. Three million Australians are either Scottish or of Scottish descent. International Tartan Day in Australia
4539-657: The US, meeting also with political bodies, business leaders, and cultural organizations, with a goal of bolstering "cultural, historical, educational and economic links between Scotland, Canada and the United States". Robertson wrote April 2023 editorials in The Scotsman and the Edinburgh Evening News on Tartan Day abroad leading to job creation in Scotland, and called the holiday "an opportunity to promote enduring connections with Scotland, including trade, investment, tourism and culture" and "a platform ... to promote Scotland in some of our most important markets". The 2023 National Tartan Day Symposium in Washington, DC, included
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#17328595119034628-482: The United States (since 1997, with increasing levels of national officialness conferred in 1998, 2005, and 2008), and Argentina (unofficially from 2006) is held on April 6, the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320. The same date is used for locally official Tartan Days in Angus and Aberdeen, Scotland (from 2004); in the latter, it has since shifted into the charity fundraiser Kilt walk , now running in four Scottish cities. International Tartan Day
4717-460: The [monarch] to wear the Royal Stewart tartan." Colin W. Hutcheson attributes this universalisation to "commercialisation in recent times"; traditionally, the Black Watch (darkened Old Campbell ) and Hunting Stewart tartans were used as universal tartans requiring no permission. In addition to its use in clothing, such as skirts and scarves, Royal Stewart tartan has also appeared on biscuit tins for Scottish shortbread such as Walker's . In
4806-464: The birth of the first prime minister of Canada , Sir John A. Macdonald (born in Scotland), and the 50th anniversary of the current flag of Canada , among other events. Glover wrote of "the contributions of the Scots and their descendants to the social fabric of our country" and "the historical links between Scotland and Canada". Starting in 2002, the France Celtic Tartan Day ( Jour du tartan celtique en France or "Le Tartan Day"), also called Day of
4895-418: The brothers John and Alexander Runciman , Jacob More and David Allan . Towards the end of the century Romanticism began to affect artistic production, and can be seen in the portraits of artists such as Henry Raeburn . It also contributed to a tradition of Scottish landscape painting that focused on the Highlands , formulated by figures including Alexander Nasmyth . The Royal Scottish Academy of Art
4984-410: The day by selling haggisburgers. Since 2001, the Scottish Australian Heritage Council and Australian branch of the Scottish National Party have petitioned the Government of Australia in the capital, Canberra , for federal recognition of International Tartan Day to celebrate the Scottish contribution to Australian history, including the influence of Scottish radicalism on the trade-union movement and
5073-537: The disaspora, especially in the United States, since the 2000s. The US is Scotland's top destination for exports, which as of 2019 amounted to £ 6 billion, 17% of Scotland's total international trade. Scottish officials have participated in Tartan Day activities, e.g. as grand marshals of the New York parade, including presiding officers of Scottish Parliament ( George Reid in 2007, Alex Fergusson in 2010, and Tricia Marwick in 2015), and Lord Provost of Glasgow Bob Winter in 2011. The Scottish Parliament sent
5162-434: The early Middle Ages there are elaborately carved Pictish stones and impressive metalwork. The development of a common style of Insular art across Great Britain and Ireland influenced elaborate jewellery and illuminated manuscripts like the Book of Kells . Only isolated examples survive of native artwork from the late Middle Ages and of works created or strongly influenced by artists of Flemish origin. The influence of
5251-409: The early modern era royal patronage supported poetry, prose and drama. James V 's court saw works such as Sir David Lindsay of the Mount 's The Thrie Estaitis . In the late sixteenth century James VI became patron and member of a circle of Scottish court poets and musicians known as the Castalian Band . When he acceded to the English throne in 1603 many followed him to the new court, but without
5340-414: The east, and The Press and Journal serving Aberdeen and the north. Scotland has its own BBC services which include the national radio stations, BBC Radio Scotland and Scottish Gaelic language service BBC Radio nan Gaidheal . There are also a number of BBC and independent local radio stations throughout the country. In addition to radio, BBC Scotland also runs three national television stations :
5429-476: The election, it was unsuccessful. Canada declared National Tartan Day in October 2010, the first official national event being held in 2011. In the national capital, Ottawa , Ontario, an annual Gathering of the Clans takes place each year, usually on April 6 or the Sunday nearest to it, on Parliament Hill at noon with pipes, drums, and dancing hosted by the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, Canada's oldest civilian pipe band. The 2023 celebrations were on April 23, and were
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#17328595119035518-550: The event, by which time it was already growing into a three-day affair in Washington, DC . This led in turn, through the advocacy of the National Capital Tartan Committee (led by James Morrison), to unanimous adoption of US House of Representatives Resolution 41 passing on March 9, 2005, in favor of a US National Tartan Day on April 6, and mirroring most of the wording of the Senate resolution. The House resolution's chief sponsors were Representative Mike McIntyre from North Carolina and Rep. Jimmy Duncan from Tennessee , who were
5607-604: The events because they don't find them "relevant". Alan Bain of the American Scottish Foundation, at Tartan Day organizer, disagreed because Scottish universities were sending parade contingents, indicating contemporary interest in Scotland. The Scottish Government (sometimes the broader Government of the UK ), along with regional Scottish governmental bodies (including city councils of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen) and industry organisations, have capitalised on opportunities to promote Scottish tourism and business interests by directly participating in Tartan Day/Week activities among
5696-426: The events to native Scots, but seems to have given up on this effort as of 2023, and reverted to "Tartan Day". There are an estimated 25 million people in the US who are of Scottish descent . Observing various Tartan Day activities in Canada and in the US at the state and county level, a March 8–10, 1996, meeting of Scottish-heritage organization leaders chaired by John H. Napier III, which included Duncan MacDonald of
5785-422: The festival began in 1980. Scottish sponsors and partners of the event include Highlands and Islands Enterprise , BBC Scotland , MG Alba , Scottish Screen , STV and Bòrd na Gàidhlig . Although the deep-fried Mars bar is jokingly said to exemplify the modern Scottish diet, Scottish cuisine offers traditional dishes such as fish and chips , haggis , the Arbroath smokie , salmon , venison , cranachan ,
5874-461: The first Breton national tartan, originated both the Paris and Brittany events. The Breton event seems to have last been held in 2018, and to have been subsumed into a broader Festival Celtique in Plessé (along with another Festival Celtique in Gévaudan ), and a Breton and Celtic event named Festiv'Arz in Arzal . With high Scottish ancestry , New Zealand unofficially celebrates International Tartan Day on 1 July each year, since 2008. Angus ,
5963-450: The first Tartan Day parade in New York City consisted of just two pipe bands and "a small but enthusiastic group of Scottish Americans", with American actor Cliff Robertson in the role of grand marshall. By 2002, the "Tunes of Glory" parade, organized by American piper Magnus Orr, Scottish piper (living in Canada) Thomas Grotrian, and the newly formed National Tartan Day New York Committee, included 8,250 pipers and drummers marching through
6052-465: The founding co-chairs of the Friends of Scotland Caucus in the House. Finally, President George W. Bush signed a presidential proclamation on April 4, 2008, of a fully official US National Tartan Day observance on April 6 each year. The largest of the US events is New York City Tartan Week. Another major one is that held in Washington, DC, which includes a National Tartan Day Symposium featuring notable Scottish and Scottish-American speakers. 1n 1999,
6141-411: The independent television output is the same as that transmitted in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the exception of news and current affairs, sport, comedy, cultural and Scottish Gaelic-language programming. As one of the Celtic nations, Scotland is represented at the Celtic Media Festival (formerly known as the Celtic International Film Festival). Scottish entrants have won many awards since
6230-574: The military tartan of the Black Watch . Tartan articles worn on the day include hats, ties, and socks. There are many pipe band associations in both Australia and New Zealand, some originating in disbanded Second World War army battalions, and almost 30 heritage events in Australia alone. Some clans, notably the McLeods of South Australia , come together in private events to honor their chief, recite Robert Burns , consume haggis , and take part in Highland dancing. A butcher in Maclean, New South Wales , "the Scottish town in Australia", reportedly celebrates
6319-407: The most well known are Festival Interceltique de Lorient – held annually in Brittany since 1971 – the Pan Celtic Festival , Ireland, and the National Celtic Festival, Portarlington , Australia. Royal Stewart tartan The Royal Stewart or Royal Stuart tartan is the best-known tartan retrospectively associated with the royal House of Stewart , and is also the personal tartan of
6408-711: The national level was on April 6, 1997. Wanting to make the holiday official, the Scottish Coalition USA (comprising the American-Scottish Foundation, the Association of Scottish Games and Festivals, the Council of Scottish Clans & Associations, Living Legacy of Scotland, the Scottish-American Military Society, and Scottish Heritage USA, and at that time also including the now-defunct Tartan Educational and Cultural Association ) held
6497-611: The outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish Americans to the United States"; it also referred to the predominance of Scots among the Founding Fathers of the United States and claimed that the American Declaration of Independence was "modelled on" the Scottish Declaration of Arbroath . The now quasi-official National Tartan Day was held annually thereafter; The Washington Times reported in 2000 on
6586-616: The parade include literary, theatrical, and musical performances; receptions; art exhibits of Scottish and Scottish-American works; music concerts and pipe band competitions; cèilidh , Highland , and Scottish country dances ; since 2004, the Scotland Run , a 10K run (sponsored by the Scottish Government with New York Road Runners , and a pre-qualifying race for the New York City Marathon ); displays of Scottish artifacts; exhibitions of Scottish dog breeds ; and Dressed to Kilt ,
6675-488: The retention of separate systems. The barristers are called advocates, and the judges of the high court for civil cases are also the judges for the high court for criminal cases. Scots Law differs from England's common law system. Formerly, there were several regional law systems in Scotland, one of which was Udal Law (also called allodail or odal law ) in Shetland and Orkney. This was a direct descendant of Old Norse Law, but
6764-665: The same period included Carol Ann Duffy , who was named as the first Scot to be UK Poet Laureate in May 2009. The earliest examples of art from what is now Scotland are highly decorated carved stone balls from the Neolithic period. From the Bronze Age there are examples of carvings, including the first representations of objects, and cup and ring marks . From the Iron Age there are more extensive examples of patterned objects and gold work. From
6853-552: The seventeenth century there were the first significant native artists for whom names are extant, with figures like George Jamesone and John Michael Wright , but the loss of the court as a result of the Union of Crowns in 1603 removed another major source of patronage. In the eighteenth century Scotland began to produce artists that were significant internationally, all influenced by neoclassicism , such as Allan Ramsay , Gavin Hamilton ,
6942-675: The streets of New York, led by Scottish actor Sir Sean Connery and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg . Other organizers of the annual affair include the Saint Andrews Society of the State of New York, the New York Caledonian Club, and the American Scottish Foundation. The event has since grown into a Tartan Week beginning with Tartan Day (the parade is held on the week's Saturday). The grand marshall each year
7031-565: The supernatural associations of that night, "Bogies" (ghosts). The bard of Scotland Robert Burns ' 1785 poem Halloween is recited by Scots at Halloween, and Burns was influenced by Mayne's composition. In Scotland, traditional Halloween customs include: Guising — children in costume going from door to door demanding food or coins — which became established practice by the late 19th century, turnips hollowed out and carved with faces to make lanterns, and parties with games such as apple bobbing . Further contemporary imagery of Halloween
7120-563: The tendency to disguise Scottish associations was mirrored in Australia: "Scots did what they were told to do when they came to Australia, assimilate and integrate, and they almost disappeared"; consequently, one aim of Tartan Day is to help Australians reconnect with their Scottish ancestry. A tartan revival started in Scotland in 1822, and now many of the Australian states, and the Commonwealth of Australia itself, have their own tartans. In 1989,
7209-473: The thirteenth century a flourishing French language culture predominated, while Norse literature was produced from areas of Scandinavian settlement. The first surviving major text in Early Scots literature is the fourteenth-century poet John Barbour 's epic Brus , which was followed by a series of vernacular versions of medieval romances. These were joined in the fifteenth century by Scots prose works. In
7298-629: The world will be watching." Also in New York, First Min. Alex Salmond in 2013 cross-promoted events in Scotland, especially the year-long Homecoming Scotland 2014 , a followup to the 2009 event series . Former First Min. Henry McLeish gave a Scotland post- Brexit presentation at Tartan Day in Washington, DC , in 2021. Angus Robertson , the Scottish culture secretary , attended 2022 Tartan Day in Ontario, Canada, and Tartan Week in New York and Washington, DC, in
7387-497: Was abolished in 1611. Despite this, Scottish courts have acknowledged the supremacy of udal law in some property cases as recently as the 1990s. Various systems based on common Celtic Law also survived in the Highlands until the 1800s. Banking in Scotland also features unique characteristics. Although the Bank of England remains the central bank for the UK Government, three Scottish corporate banks still issue their own banknotes :
7476-653: Was created in 1826, and major portrait painters of this period included Andrew Geddes and David Wilkie . William Dyce emerged as one of the most significant figures in art education in the United Kingdom. The beginnings of a Celtic Revival can be seen in the late nineteenth century and the art scene was dominated by the work of the Glasgow Boys and the Four, led Charles Rennie Mackintosh , who gained an international reputation for their combination of Celtic revival, Art and Crafts and Art Nouveau . The early twentieth century
7565-565: Was dominated by the Scottish Colourists and the Edinburgh School . They have been described as the first Scottish modern artists and were the major mechanism by which post-impressionism reached Scotland. There was a growing interest in forms of Modernism , with William Johnstone helping to develop the concept of a Scottish Renaissance . In the post-war period, major artists, including John Bellany and Alexander Moffat, pursued
7654-512: Was first attested in the 16th century as a Scottish shortening of All-Hallows-Eve , and according to some historians it has its roots in the Gaelic festival of Samhain , when the Gaels believed the border between this world and the otherworld became thin, and the dead would revisit the mortal world. In 1780, Dumfries poet John Mayne noted Halloween pranks: "What fearfu' pranks ensue!" , as well as
7743-620: Was literature in Latin, under the influence of the Catholic Church, and in Old English , brought by Anglian settlers. As the state of Alba developed into the kingdom of Scotland from the eighth century, there was a flourishing literary elite who regularly produced texts in both Gaelic and Latin, sharing a common literary culture with Ireland and elsewhere. After the Davidian Revolution of
7832-474: Was one of the premier medieval scholastics . In the Scottish Enlightenment Edinburgh was home to much intellectual talent, including Francis Hutcheson , David Hume , and Adam Smith . Other cities also produced major thinkers at that time: e.g. Aberdeen 's Thomas Reid . Halloween , on the night of October 31, is a traditional and much celebrated holiday in Scotland. The name Halloween
7921-463: Was organized by an association named Hentou Breizh ('Breton Paths') along with l’Association Château Essor Blinois. Held at the castle Château de la Groulais in Blain (though not always on April 6), it featured a parade through that city, music and dancing, and a crafts fair. The event celebrated Breton culture as well as Scottish, and the links between the two Celtic nations . Richard Duclos, designer of
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