Tartan Day is coming soon.
The nice thing about Tartans and Tartan Day is that we can all wear tartan anyday, without fear, and you need not be Scottish.
After Scottish forces were defeated by the English in 1746 at the Battle of Culloden, the wearing of the tartan was banned.
Bagpipes were classified as “instruments of war” and banned. The wearing of the tartan was punishable by death, yet some Scots wore concealed pieces of tartan when they attended church.
Although it was a long time ago, many Scottish Canadians have brought and modified traditions in different areas of Canada.
In Gaelic, a church is referred to as a Kirk. The Kirkin’ of the Tartan goes back in time when tartans were forbidden to be worn.
Two members of Sons of Scotland made reference to Kirkin’ last year at Tartan Day at Vernon’s Trinity United Church. The day itself ended up being a celebration of tartan and the closest I can recall to a “fashion show.”
Scots would wear a small piece of cloth tartan sometimes hidden, until it was known that the Kirk was clear. Four different directions were scouted out and reported back as “All clear on North, South, East and West” until the Kirk was deemed to be safe.
Fast forward to Vernon.
Although Tartan Day is officially April 6, churches at different times select different dates. With Easter occurring on April 5, and Easter Monday being April 6, Trinity United has elected to move Tartan Day to Sunday, April 12.