What is this National Tartan Day?

[TaxCollector]

I find myself wondering what this day is really about. I understand that it's a day to celebrate Scottish heritage, is there anything else to it? Also why is the chosen day April 6th? What are you supposed to wear on this day?

I also would like to add that I am currently kilt-less, therefore what should I wear? I have a towel that transforms into a kilt but I feel like that's more of an insult to my heritage. I have plenty of flannel button up shirts, will this do?

I'm just confused.
Thank you very much.

Best Regards,
Jake

[SlackerDrummer]

They don't seem to be big on updating their website, but....

http://www.tartanday.org/

[thescot]

It's another excuse to wear the kilt.

As if we needed an excuse!

[McElmurry]

It's another excuse to wear the kilt.

As if we needed an excuse!

In his OP he said he didn't have a kilt yet.

I also would like to add that I am currently kilt-less, therefore what should I wear? I have a towel that transforms into a kilt but I feel like that's more of an insult to my heritage. I have plenty of flannel button up shirts, will this do?

I'm just confused.
Thank you very much.

Best Regards,
Jake

I am kilt-less as well (still waiting for swatches so I can make a decision).
I would say no on the towel. A tie in your clan color if you have one might be nice. I suppose there are district ties if you haven’t found a clan but I haven’t looked for those.

[robbiethepiper]

A cynic might say it's a bit like Mothers, Day, Valentine or even Xmas - Advanced marketing.....

[macwilkin]

A cynic might say it's a bit like Mothers, Day, Valentine or even Xmas - Advanced marketing.....

It wasn't a move by a greeting card company to create a holiday, though...Tartan Day began in Canada as a way for those of Scottish heritage to celebrate the contributions of Scottish immigrants to that country; later, it spread to the United States for a similar purpose. Sure, the holiday is a relatively new one -- but just like the Irish have St. Patrick's Day, the Italians Columbus or St. Joseph's Day, etc. -- it was a way for the descendants of the Scots who came to this country (and Canada, Australia, etc.) to celebrate the accomplishments of the Diaspora in "The New World".

T.

[Lallans]

At present, I would submit it's a day highlighting Scottish contributions to countries outside Scotland and a rallying point for Scots expats and descendants- along the lines of St Patricks Day but with less sentiment and stereotyping. I certainly don't see it as a commercial event. As the website should explain, April 6 was chosen because it was a day an early democratic document was issued, one that was a model for the US Declaration of Independence. I will not attempt the spelling of said Scottish document.

Edit: [I see Cajunscot beat me to it on several points while I was still typing. As usual!]

[macwilkin]

At present, I would submit it's a day highlighting Scottish contributions to countries outside Scotland and a rallying point for Scots expats and descendants- along the lines of St Patricks Day but with less sentiment and stereotyping. I certainly don't see it as a commercial event. As the website should explain, April 6 was chosen because it was a day an early democratic document was issued, one that was a model for the US Declaration of Independence. I will not attempt the spelling of said Scottish document.

Edit: [I see Cajunscot beat me to it on several points while I was still typing. As usual!]

You summed it up quite nicely, though, Canuck.

T.

[Spc. Scott]

I believe it was the Declaration of Arbroath.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Arbroath

[robbiethepiper]

At present, I would submit it's a day highlighting Scottish contributions to countries outside Scotland and a rallying point for Scots expats and descendants- along the lines of St Patricks Day but with less sentiment and stereotyping. I certainly don't see it as a commercial event. As the website should explain, April 6 was chosen because it was a day an early democratic document was issued, one that was a model for the US Declaration of Independence. I will not attempt the spelling of said Scottish document.

Edit: [I see Cajunscot beat me to it on several points while I was still typing. As usual!]

As a Scot living in London, England, I've always raised a glass or several on St. Andrews day. To be honest I'd never heard of "Tartan Day" till I joined this forum. Ah well, any excuse to open the malt....