How to Celebrate Tartan Day at Home and Virtually

April 5, 2021 Update
It’s hard to believe that we are more than a year into this pandemic, and unfortunately, still need to do many things virtually to keep everyone safe and healthy, There is light (or maybe a peak of tartan!) at the end of the tunnel with vaccines rolling out throughout the United States and the world. Here’s hoping that we will be able to enjoy in-person Tartan Day celebrations in 2022. In the meantime, these suggestions still work for celebrating Tartan Day at home, and I’ve updated the links in #8 with 2021 virtual events. Slàinte Mhath!

Here in Colorado we were looking forward to celebrating our Scottish heritage on Tartan Day, officially April 6, at the Colorado Tartan Day Festival the weekend of April 11-12. It would have been our first Highland festival of the 2020 season. Like most everything in our lives today, our plans have changed significantly because of the pandemic crisis.

But we’re Scottish American, and we like a good challenge; as a matter of fact, we thrive when faced with adversity!! So we’ll be celebrating Tartan Day on April 6, and you can too — both virtually and at home.

First, a bit about the history of Tartan Day. It was started by Canadians in the 1980s as a way to celebrate Scottish heritage and was quickly adopted by other countries who had large communities of Scottish descent. After first being introduced as a resolution in the U.S. Senate in 1988, National Tartan Day on April 6 finally became official here in 2008 with the signature of President George W. Bush.

April 6 was chosen because of its association in 1320 with the Declaration of Abroath, which is an iconic historical document representing Scotland’s fight for independence. Sent to Pope John XXII in an attempt to get his support in Scotland’s long running fight for nationhood as well as his official recognition of King Robert the Bruce as the country’s lawful king, the Declaration is a national treasure of Scotland that some say influenced the United States’ Declaration of Independence.

The fragile document (actually a “file copy” created at the same time as the original) with 19 of up to 50 wax seals that were used instead of signatures on the document was to have been displayed at the National Museum of Scotland this month in celebration of the 700th anniversary of the Declaration. The museum recently announced that the display will be rescheduled at a later date.

Certainly one of the most compelling paragraphs in the Declaration continues to be an inspiration for all of us with a connection to Scotland:

“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.”

Declaration of Arbroath

Now that you know what you’re celebrating, here’s a plan for simple ways to celebrate Tartan Day at home:

1. Wear tartan all day on April 6!

Since my husband and I are working remotely at home, we’ll be sporting our favorite tartans all day long. For me, it will be leggings in the Scottish American Insider tartan created specifically for my blog (featured in the header on my website). My husband will be wearing a kilt in either the Anderson or Ross tartan; for after work, he’ll sport his flannel lounge kilt in Stewart tartan (yes, there is such a thing as a lounge kilt!!). If you work in an essential business where a uniform prevents you from wearing tartan, consider adding a kilt pin or Scottish brooch or maybe wear that pair of tartan underwear!

Don’t have anything tartan? Support a local or regional business that has Scottish goods by buying online. Many of these businesses have had to close their showrooms to the public due to the pandemic and are relying on online orders. I ordered my canned haggis from Taylor’s Croft in Grand Junction, CO. If you have a favorite Scottish shop here in the United States, please post a link in the comments section of this blog.

2. Make a meal with your favorite Scottish recipes

Filling a regular grocery list has become quite challenging these days, so be prepared to adapt your Scottish favorites. I’m planning a meal of canned haggis with neeps (rutabaga in US or turnip in the UK) and tatties (potatoes) topped with whisky sauce. I found this recipe that specifically uses canned haggis, and I’ve made several other Scottish recipes from this food blogger which were successful. For dessert, I’ll probably do a simple shortbread, using my go-to recipe from Cook’s Illustrated (featured on this food blogger’s site). Keep in mind that we are Scottish American or Scots Irish, not Scottish — let your cooking reflect your heritage with any adaptations you choose!

3. Enjoy a wee dram

We’ve all been cautioned not to overindulge during these stressful times, but enjoying a wee dram of whisky on the special occasion of Tartan Day is allowed and encouraged. Our go-to for special occasions is a Lagavulin 16-Year-Old whisky. If you are sober by choice or in recovery, consider an Irn Bru, Scotland’s iconic soda, or a nice cupa.

4. Have your own Tartan Day parade

It is as simple as having a walk about your neighborhood while wearing your tartan! (Check out this Facebook Video from our extravagant and fabulous 2020 parade!)

5. Listen to your favorite Scottish music

Play your albums, your 8-tracks, your cassette tapes, your CDs or stream your online Celtic playlists. Don’t have any favorites? If you use a music streaming service like Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music or Google Play, search for Celtic or Scottish playlists. You’ll find more searching on Celtic music, which will be a mix of Irish and Scottish tunes, but that’s perfect for us Scots-Irish Americans!

6. Watch your favorite Scottish film

I’m planning an in-depth blog on Scottish films (Scottish subject matter — not just films made in Scotland), but in the meantime, here are our go-to films:

• I Know Where I’m Going: a 1945 romance film by the British-based filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger starring Wendy Hiller and Roger Livesey. Includes a cool scene based on the Corryvreckan whirlpool between the Scottish isles of Jura and Scarba.
• Whisky Galore (also known as Tight Little Island): a 1949 comedy flick in which Scottish islanders try to plunder 50,000 cases of whisky from a stranded ship. Based on true events, it’s all about making the most of what’s available during tough times (in their case World War II whisky rationing), but again pertinent for us today.

7. Have a Robert Burns poetry reading

This is a perfect time to practice your recitation at home for the real deal on Jan. 25. I think his To a Mouse is especially apropos nowadays: “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men…”

8. Share your Tartan Day celebration on social media and join other virtual celebrations

In these days of continued social distancing, social media offers an excellent option for connecting to and celebrating your heritage with the vast Scottish diaspora in the world. Plan to share photos, videos, live streams, etc., from your virtual Tartan Day celebration with your family and friends, your Scottish clan, and in Facebook groups (there are lots of Scottish ones).

Here are a couple of specific virtual Tartan Day (and Week) events to consider:

• American Scottish Foundation Tartan Week Virtual Events, April 5-11, 2021. A series of events that the ASF is presenting or partnering on as well events they think you might enjoy.
• Check out NYC Tartan Week Facebook page for virtual events throughout the week.