Maple Leaf Tartan- represents all tartans?

[Lallans]

Maple Leaf trivia: I found the following via Google. Interesting use of the Maple Leaf tartan to represent all tartans [I presume this would only work in Canada], and also just the second time I've encountered the Kirkin' of the Tartans service in Canada (of course this might be because of my personal tendency to burst into flames upon entering a place of worship ):

"Once at Knox [Presbyterian Church], the members and guests will enter the sanctuary for the 10:30 a.m. service. For those unfamiliar with the Kirkin', the format follows a regular service, with the addition of the blessings of the tartans. This is a symbolic reference to the time when the Scots were banned from wearing their tartans, speaking Gaelic or playing bagpipes.

In today's era, the Kirkin' portion is the asking of God's blessings on all those who come under the various clan banners as well as all those present at the service. The Maple Leaf tartan, representing all tartans, will be placed on the Bible for the Scottish blessing. Pipes and drums will also play a large role in the service and music director Wayne Carroll has special music planned. "

Si tu veut, the full newspaper article can be viewed at:

http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/...true&e=1210345

[macwilkin]

Maple Leaf trivia: I found the following via Google. Interesting use of the Maple Leaf tartan to represent all tartans [I presume this would only work in Canada], and also just the second time I've encountered the Kirkin' of the Tartans service in Canada (of course this might be because of my personal tendency to burst into flames upon entering a place of worship ):

"Once at Knox [Presbyterian Church], the members and guests will enter the sanctuary for the 10:30 a.m. service. For those unfamiliar with the Kirkin', the format follows a regular service, with the addition of the blessings of the tartans. This is a symbolic reference to the time when the Scots were banned from wearing their tartans, speaking Gaelic or playing bagpipes.

In today's era, the Kirkin' portion is the asking of God's blessings on all those who come under the various clan banners as well as all those present at the service. The Maple Leaf tartan, representing all tartans, will be placed on the Bible for the Scottish blessing. Pipes and drums will also play a large role in the service and music director Wayne Carroll has special music planned. "

Si tu veut, the full newspaper article can be viewed at:

http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/...true&e=1210345

Perhaps the symbolism is that since the Maple Leaf is the de facto Canadian tartan, it may symbolically represent all other tartans in Canada; the individual Scottish clanspersons coming together as Canadians, all provinces and territories uniting the Confederation, etc.

From a logistical standpoint, it certainly makes sense, as you do not have a lot of "clutter" on the Bible as well as the logistics of having clanspersons coming forward with tartan banners, etc.

When the Nova Scotia tartan was designed back in the 1953, it was also intended to be a "symbolic" tartan for a display of weaving at the Nova Scotia Sheep Breeders Association. One version of its history states that the tartan was designed to avoid having to choose a particular clan tartan for the display, similar to Lord Elcho's choice of Hodden Grey for the London Scottish.

T.