Kirkin' of the Tartan

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Back in 1972-'73 I assistedd Col. Douglas B. MacMullen in organizing what may have been the first "Kirkin" in Los Angeles. One of the members of the local St. Andrew's Society asked the colonel if it was an ancient Scottish custom. Doug looked at the person, thought for a moment and, as I recall, replied, "It dates back to Washington D.C. in 1941. Does that make it ancient enough for you?" Frankly, until I read this thread, I had never heard of the "Kirkin" being anything other than a wholly American custom (I think it takes a hundred years for a custom to be come a tradition).

[gilmore]

...(I think it takes a hundred years for a custom to be come a tradition).

It depends on where you are. In Europe it may take 100 years. In most of the US it takes doing something annually two years in a row. In California it takes maybe 15 minutes.

[macwilkin]

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.

Reformation Day/Sunday is actually on or before October 31st, as it was on the Eve of All Hallows that Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door. But, nevertheless, good on your church for celebrating with a piper!

T.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I've noticed that a lot of Presbyterian churches who buy tartan cloth from us for banners to used in Kirkin's celebrate the Kirkin' of the Tartans on 'Reformation Sunday,' and always wondered why the connection.

Of course, in our tradition we celebrate the Vigil of All Saint's Day (aka All Saints, or "All Hallows" Eve) on that date. Just call us old fashioned.... :-)

[macwilkin]

I've noticed that a lot of Presbyterian churches who buy tartan cloth from us for banners to used in Kirkin's celebrate the Kirkin' of the Tartans on 'Reformation Sunday,' and always wondered why the connection.

Of course, in our tradition we celebrate the Vigil of All Saint's Day (aka All Saints, or "All Hallows" Eve) on that date. Just call us old fashioned.... :-)

Matt,

Not to go too "off-topic", but many Presbyterians also celebrate All Saint's Day. I know the congregation I attended as a child did.

Todd

[Carolina Kiltman]

Locally, it seems that just about any occasion will be an excuse for the "kirking o the tartan". The Presbyterian Church across the street from me does it on the
Sunday after R. Burn's birthday. . . . there was also one the Sunday after the late Flora MacDonald games in Red Springs, and there were a couple of others around here in other Presbyterian Churches as part of their "Old Fashioned Home Comings, a few weeks back.

It is a nice service, I especially like the roll call of the Clans.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I've also noticed a lot of Presbyterian Churches seem to celebrate the Kirkin' of the Tartans to mark the anniversary of their church's establishment.

(Or in conjunction with a local Highland Games or Scottish festival, if there is one).

[macwilkin]

I've also noticed a lot of Presbyterian Churches seem to celebrate the Kirkin' of the Tartans to mark the anniversary of their church's establishment.

(Or in conjunction with a local Highland Games or Scottish festival, if there is one).

For Episcopalians, November seems to be a popular kirkin' month for:

St. Margaret of Scotland (Nov. 16)
St. Andrew (Nov. 30)
The consecration of the Rt. Rev. Samuel Seabury (Nov. 14)

The last date refers to the first American Episcopal Bishop, who was consecrated by three Scottish Episcopal Bishops in Aberdeen in 1784.

Regards,

Todd

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Todd, you never cease to amaze me.

[ChattanCat]

I was raised Presbyterian and we didn't have any tartan's displayed that I can rememver. I lived in Pennsylvania, you'd think that a tradition that was started in DC would convey..