Happy Tartan Day

April 6, 2022

“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.” (Ref.: National Days)

On 9 March 1986, a ‘Tartan Day’ to promote Scottish heritage in Canada was proposed at a meeting of the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia (whose name means “New Scotland”). Jean Watson, President of Clan Lamont, petitioned provincial legislatures to recognize 6 April as Tartan Day. The first such proclamation was by Nova Scotia in April 1987. On 19 December 1991, in response to action initiated by the Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada, the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming 6 April as Tartan Day, following the example of other Canadian provinces.

Meeting in 1997 in Sarasota, Florida, the Scottish Coalition USA looked to see Tartan Day recognized in the US as it was being observed in Canada. In 1998, the efforts of the Scottish Coalition with the leading help of Trent Lott saw the United States Senate Resolution adopt April 6 as National Tartan Day. This led in turn to the Congressional and then Presidential passing of the recognition of Tartan Day Observance on 6 April each year.

In Australia, wearing tartan on 1 July has been encouraged since 1989. The day has been promoted as International Tartan Day in Australia since 1996 and has been formally recognised by some states, but not at the national level. (Ref. Wikipedia)