Kirkin' of the Tartan

[ThistleDown]

Perhaps a bit more on this because I am a tad heated under the collar (my apologies to all of you).

The largest grave on Drumossie Moor contains the bits and pieces of Clan Chattan folk. I have more than one ancestor who's dust is mingled there. They may well all have died for what they believed in -- who's to know now? -- but I have other ancestors who absented themselves from that place, also for reasons just as valid but just as unknown today.

"Jacobite" is not an active word in Highland Scotland. We live in a 21stC world with a wonderful history, if fully understood. Our great-grandfathers' lives were not yesteryear's myths come to an end in 1746 and yet still existing as though they had not. We live in a vibrant and very real society that has comfortably evolved into what it is.

[Jock Scot]

Oh my word, how tired am I of the biscuit tin,myth laden,ill-informed view of Scottish history,particularly when its all viewed through rose tinted glasses! I suppose Holliwood has not helped with making our history any more accurate either.Ok the "Wild West" and other places have suffered the same treatment as well, but am I sick sorry and tired of the absolute nonsense that the tourist industry of the last hundred years has dished out to unwitting customers who have visited here.Is it going to get any better? I doubt it!Sorry every one,but I just had to get all this out of my system. Accurate and factual history is important, but tomorrow is even more so and unless and until all this quasi historical clap trap is seen for what it is, we,Scotland, has and will have ever more trouble with the future. In fact it is to Scotland's credit that we have managed to get this far! Sorry every one.Mods If you don't like this, then please delete it.

[Scotus]

Jock Scot

Could you just say what you really mean?

I think you have to disassociate Scottish-American culture with actual Scotland. You live there and experience the day to day, modern life of Scotland. When Americans of Scottish descent, who live thousands of miles away from Scotland, wish to celebrate their Scottish ancestry, they do so by emphasizing the myths and stories that have grown up around the actual history of the place. This sometimes means romanticizing actual events. For Americans, this is what makes history a bit more colorful, if not altogether factual. From an American point of view, I think it's quite harmless and good for the soul. I know that from a Scottish point of view it must be quite irritating. Try to be patient with us.

BTW, as a Roman Catholic, I had never heard of "Kirkin'" until joining this forum.

[Jock Scot]

Scotus,I hear what you say and of course in many ways you are correct.My point is this;Scotland's actual history does not need romanticising!Its history is full of mystery,murder,mayhem,skullduggery,intrigue,daring do,and even has some good, gentle parts too!It does not need any embelishment and when someone,as on this thread,inadvertantly maybe,gets our history so wrong and then draws the wrong conclusions and then perpetuates those wrong conclusions on a website such as this, then, stone the wretched crows,is it any wonder people get brassed off! Having said all this, I will be delighted to welcome any visitors here in "my" part of Scotland,just don't expect to be wearing those rose tinted specs.!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Father,

Romaticising history a little bit is one thing. Making up pure fiction to justify a modern tradition is another.

Take, for example, the idea of "clan membership." Just because your last name is so-and-so, does not necessarily mean your anscestors were members of "Clan X." But you take it with a grain of salt, adopt the clan as your own, and participate in the broader spectrum of Scottish-American culture with a sense of belonging. This, to me, falls into that category of harmless romanticising of history.

However, I really have no patience for those who perpetuate false myths about such things for which we have a well-documented history, such as the origins of the Kirkin of the Tartans ceremony. We know just where and when and why this service began, and it wasn't that long ago. But rather than acknowledge the real story behind it, people feel compelled to create a false "origin myth" to connect the rite to some Jacobite past.

I even know pastors in churches where this service is performed who know full well about Peter Marshall and the origins of the Kirkin, yet insist in printing in their programs the myth about the Jacobites sneaking scraps of tartans into the church in their bibles, etc., all because it's "a good story." But when your congregation all goes home believing that falsehood, and never knowing how the kirkin' actually originated, who is being served there?

By the way, I can echoe Father's statement that as a Roman Catholic (and one with a special interest in church history), I have never encountered anything in our tradition even remotely resembling a "kirkin of the tartans" ceremony. Nor would I expect to. (But it has always struck me that the blassing of inanimate objects seems a very "Catholic" thing for Presbyterians to be doing!)

[ChattanCat]

I would like to thank CPO Bull for posting. You have sparked some interest and I want to thank you for your opposing view-point. My original question was simple: Was it really an American inspired tradition? What I got was a fabulous lesson(s) in Scottish history.

Thanks to everyone,

[Scotus]

Jock Scot and Matt:

As an historian myself, I didn't say I was in favor of romanticizing history to the point of making things up that didn't happen, only that it's understandable and natural from an American point of view. I fully agree with what Jock has said; Scottish history is filled with lots of intrigue, murder, conspiracy, etc. We really don't need to be making things up. In fact, I am opposed to making up stories that people know to be false. We call that, "lying." I just try to be patient with those whose view of Scottish history is based on badly made movies like Braveheart, myths about Jacobites, etc, and make corrections when necessary.

[macwilkin]

To add further to Jock, Matt and Scotus' posts: personally, the real story behind the kirkin' service is much more compelling to me than the myth that is perpetuated in the Scottish-American community. What amazes me is that more have not embraced the real story, as it is a story of a Scottish immigrant and his efforts to assist his homeland during the greatest conflict ever fought in World history: the fight against fascism in the Second World War.

Regards,

Todd

[Jock Scot]

To add further to Jock, Matt and Scotus' posts: personally, the real story behind the kirkin' service is much more compelling to me than the myth that is perpetuated in the Scottish-American community. What amazes me is that more have not embraced the real story, as it is a story of a Scottish immigrant and his efforts to assist his homeland during the greatest conflict ever fought in World history: the fight against fascism in the Second World War.

Regards,

Todd

There were many unsung people throughout our history and this man did his bit in his way in our hour of need,for that I thank him.I think his and others, efforts should not be diluted by dressing up the real truth

with a whole heap of historical nonsense. Scotland in particular and Britain in general ought to be aware of his efforts.

[Cerebite]

As a further twist on this my Presbyterian Church [and probably others] has taken to celebrating the Scottish roots of the Reformation on Reformation Sunday.
Yes I know the Reformation started in Germany [Lutheran] but it flourished quite well in England and Scotland [Presbyterian]. For those of you who do not know Reformation Sunday is the first Sunday in November in honor of Martin Luthers' posting of the 95 Thesis on the Whittenberg door on All Saints Day [1 November] initiating the Reformation of the Christian Church.

We do not have enough interest in my church to actually do a Kirkin' of the Tartan but the service today will have a very Scottish feel to it including a live piper [the pastors son is in an internationally recognized youth pipe band] and possibly a telling of Peter Marshalls story of the Kirkin'. Unfortunately I have to work so I will not be there but I did wear my kilt and Crael jacket today in honor of the Reformation and Peter Marshall.