in Ayrshire, Scotland
Tartan - Scotland's national textile - is a beguiling cloth which has developed from native culture to the present fantastic proliferation. It has become an international phenomenon through romantic invention, and the association with many families and clans is utterly spurious.
The Ayrshire District tartan WR436 is shown top right. 'Tartans of Scotland' explains the design by Dr. Philip Smith FSTS, of PA, USA thus: Gold represents the rising sun, green the land, brown the coastline, blue the sea, and red the setting sun. Ayrshire tartan is intended for all those with connections in the districts of Kyle, Cunningham and Inverclyde.
Although several clans are associated with the Ayrshire province we have association only with clan Boyd. The Boyd clan tartan - WR1819 - shown here is based on the Hay and the Stuart of Bute tartans, and was registered with the Scottish Tartans Society in 1956.
The Ayre family tartan which is shown on the background of these pages (and at the right) was designed at the Peter MacDonald Design Studio in Crieff, Perthshire, and is recorded as No.6305 in the International Tartan Index of the Scottish Tartans Authority.
The certified half sett/ full pivots: Y/6 OG28 K18 R4 K18 RB36 K6 W/2
The weaver is D.C.Dalgliesh Ltd (Weavers), Dunsdale Mill, Selkirk, Scotland TD7 5EB
The tartan is now available in 11oz and 16oz new wool and silk from the Scotweb network.
NB. All persons of the AYRE name with Scottish ancestry are welcome to wear this tartan.
As Orkney is a part of Scotland (albeit above the 'tartan belt' and with Norse history and traditions) an Orkney tartan was designed in the Scottish Borders. The Orkney Tartan 2681 design is shown right; the choice of colours was explained in the local newspaper:-
"Green, because the first thing that strikes everybody about Orkney is the greenness of the agricultural land; blue represents the different colours of the sea and sky; purple is the very prominent colour of the heather on hills like Hoy, and orange is the colour of the lovely sunsets and the beaches we get here". Very true.
Finally, we have the Masonic tartan of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. This tartan is predominantly green and gold, the colour of the majority of Scottish Lodge regalia.
It is No.2924 on the Scottish Tartans World Register, and is described there as 'a general Masonic tartan for those of the Scottish Rite'.
Ayrshire District tartan
Boyd clan tartan
Ayre tartan
Orkney tartan
Grand Lodge of Scotland
The Kirkin' of the Tartan Legend
This public ceremony is held in some areas of the USA, Canada and Australia, generally organised by a St. Andrew's Society or a local Clans organisation.
There are many who believe (without supporting evidence) that a 'Blessing of the Tartans' was practiced here in Scotland during the Proscription of 1746 when items of tartan clothing were forbidden following the fall of Bonnie Prince Charlie. If only! - any surviving heirloom specimens of tartan would be invaluable to historians who have very little knowledge of the tartans of that era. John Prebble in 'Culloden' asserts "When Proscription was lifted in 1782 there was no enthusiastic return to the tartan or the kilt".
It is believed that the ceremony was created in 1941 at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington DC by Pastor Dr.Peter Marshall (a former St. Andrews Society President). The story of Dr.Marshall written by his wife Catherine Marshall makes no mention at all of the ceremony he is credited with having introduced from his Scottish roots (he was born in the lowlands, in 'The Iron Burgh' of Coatbridge), but fortunately this history is alive in living memory - as related by Mr.David M.Pickens.
David's aunt was the choir director at Rev. Marshall's church, and she attended Agnes Scott College in Atlanta with Mrs. Catherine Marshall. His mother and father were married by Rev.Marshall prior to his departure to Europe in 1942, and with this family association his aunt and his mother attended the early services.
The 'Kirkin' o' the Tartan' element in evening services began as a way to raise funds for UK children displaced by WW2 bombing. Many thanks to Mr.Pickens for sharing these recollections.
The 'Kirkin' ceremonies and processions are undoubtedly enjoyed by many as a celebration of their Scots origin, but alas the legend has no known documented history and continues furth of Scotland as brigadoonery.
For more tartan information and links about kirkin', please visit the Scottish Tartans Museum.
Tartan Day - and Arbroath
National Tartan Day is the Scottish-Canadian and Scottish-American day for celebrating their Scottish heritage; it has even been imported into Scotland and embraced with enthusiasm by the Scottish Executive!
The National Day in Scotland when we celebrate our heritage is St. Andrews Day - held in dreich November.
Tartan Day originated in Nova Scotia, Canada, and the 6th April was chosen. The same date was logically chosen by the United States of America. NB. It is held on the 1st July in Australia and New Zealand.
The text of the U.S.Senate resolution 155 for Tartan Day states that the Declaration of Arbroath was signed on 6th April 1320, and that the American Declaration of Independence was inspired by that document. That, however, was a comment made 'after the fact', and it is on record that Canada's date was not chosen to coincide with the Declaration of Arbroath.
So, National Tartan Day is celebrated in the U.S.A. on 6th April because it is celebrated in Canada on that day.
Toast the splendid tartan with 'GENTLEMEN - THE TARTAN' by Murdock Maclean here.