National Tartan Day:

The National Tartan Day is a celebration that takes place on April 6 every year. The holiday is used as a commemoration of the Scottish Declaration of Independence.

Twitter Hashtags:

#NationalTartanDay

#TartanDay

Why National Tartan Day?

The National Tartan Day is a celebration that is commemorated annually on April 6. The day is used to mark the Declaration of Arbroath, also known as the Scottish Declaration of Independence. The day was signed in 1320. This day is of utmost importance in the United States because the declaration of independence in America was modeled from the Declaration of Arbroath. Besides, around half of those who signed the Declaration of Independence and nine governors elected to form the new United States were of Scottish descent. This Scottish history in America’s Declaration of Independence makes the day important in the United States.

How can we celebrate National Tartan Day:

To celebrate this holiday, you can observe it in the following ways:

• Be part of a parade

On this national day, many parades are organized in different cities. One of the best ways to observe this day is by attending one of these parades with your friends or family. The parades are usually done to highlight different Scottish traditions. People who attend the parades are usually dressed in kilts and are accompanied by bands that bring life to the parade using drums and bagpipes. By attending this parade, you will have a similar experience as traveling to the Scottish Highlands.

• Wear a Kilt and Sporran

The other way that you can observe this holiday is by wearing a kilt. Several shops sell these traditional Scottish attires once the holiday approaches; hence you should not be worried if you do not have one. Most people will have a kilt during this holiday; hence, you should not worry about how it will look on you. Besides the kilt, you should also get a sporran. This is also another crucial piece of traditional Scottish attire. It is a stunning traditional purse that complements the kilt. Because the kilt does not have pockets, the sporran will come in handy to help you safely carry your phone and wallet as you join in the parade.

• Cook a traditional Scottish meal

The next best thing to do during this holiday is to prepare a traditional Scottish dish. There are many dishes that you can prepare, but the most common is black pudding and Haggis. If you are not sure about the recipe, you can ask a friend to help you or find an online resource that will take you through the process. Haggis is a meal made of various sheep organs such as the heart, liver, and lungs. The dish is then boiled in oatmeal, suet, and seasoning. The Scottish black pudding is also different because, unlike the rest, it is made of dried pig’s blood, oatmeal, and suet.

• Post on Social Media

The last way for you to celebrate this holiday is to post photos and videos of yourself with a kilt or when eating a Scottish meal on social media. When posting these photos and videos, do so with the hashtag #NationalTartanDay.

Interesting Facts about National Tartan Day:

Some interesting facts you need to learn about the Scottish customs include the following:

• The tartan can be different in some countries. The difference comes in terms of design and colors.
• The Scottish created the New Year’s Eve song. The New Year’s Eve song titled “Auld Lang Syne” is a Scottish folklore song
• written by Robert Burns, a renowned Scottish poet.
• Most people believe that the bagpipes first originated from Scotland, but this is not true. The bagpipes were musical instruments that were invented in ancient Egypt and the Middle East.
• The Scottish people have still embraced their ancient language, Gaelic, which is still spoken in Scotland alongside English. The language is also taught in several schools.
• The national animal of Scotland is a Unicorn. Scotland selected the unicorn because it represents courage, purity, strength, and unity. The Scottish are also known for their belief in myths; hence it is no surprise that the unicorn is Scotland’s national animal.

History of National Tartan Day:

This national holiday stemmed from Canada in the mid-1930s. At the time, Canada only constituted 15% of Scottish people. On this day, people of Scottish heritage in different countries come together to celebrate their traditions and mark the day when Scotland gained independence. Scotland gained independence on April 6, 1320, after signing the Declaration of Arbroath, which gave the right to form their military. Scottish Americans residing in the United States also played a huge role in campaigning for April 6 to be selected as National Tartan Day. This was to appreciate the huge role the Scottish played in America’s independence. Besides the US, other countries that commemorate this holiday are Australia, Canada, Scotland, and Argentina.