National Tartan Day

National Tartan Day Quick Facts - US

AKA Name	Tartan Day, National Holiday for Scottish Americans
ℹ HashtagsCompiled on06:05	#TartanDay, #NationalTartanDay
Related Hashtags	#Tartan, #Scotland, #Scottish
2023 Date	April 6, 2023
2024 Date	April 6, 2024

2023 Holidays & Dates

		US & Common Holidays
		Misc. & Int'l. Observancesℹ
		Christian Holidays
		Jewish Holidays
		Muslim Holidays

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National Tartan Day in 2023

Thursday, Apr 6

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National Tartan Day History

National Tartan Day is a celebration of Scottish heritage which also marks the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath. The Declaration of Arbroath is a declaration of Scottish Independence, signed in 1320. The declaration is in the form of a letter addressed to Pope John XXII and declared Scotland as an independent and sovereign state. The declaration was written at the Arbroath Abbey by Bernard of Kilwinning, Chancellor of Scotland and Abbot of Arbroath.

National Tartan Day originated in New York City when the mayor, Ed Koch, declared July 1, 1982, as Tartan day. It was a one-time celebration of the 200th anniversary of repealing the Act of Proscription (August 12, 1747), which had forbidden Scots to wear tartan. Then in 2004, the National Capital Tartan Day Committee lobbied US House Representatives to designate April 6 as National Tartan Day, a day which was adopted on March 9, 2005.

Top Tweets for National Tartan Day -

Updated 06:04

Happy #TartanDay! April 6 is the day Americans celebrate their Scottish heritage and the enormous contribution 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 has made to 🇺🇸 We ❤️ our new scarves in our official Consulate tartan. Let us know what tartan you’re wearing today! https://t.co/YsTe7DE4xo
— U.S. Consulate Edinburgh (@USAinScotland) April 6, 2023

Today is National Tartan Day. The United States Naval Academy Pipes and Drums band wears the Polaris Tartan that was originally designed in the 1960s for American personnel stationed at the U.S. Navy's submarine base in the Holy Loch, Scotland. #NationalTartanDay https://t.co/wpebAthltJ
— U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) April 6, 2023

I’m happy to be giving a talk today for the National Tartan Day Symposium at the DACOR Bacon House in Washington, D.C. and I was greeted by Lord Dunmore, Virginia’s last royal governor https://t.co/VnuGpkjVZj
— Jim Ambuske, Ph.D. @jimambuske@historians.social (@JamesPAmbuske) April 6, 2023

National Tartan Day Facts & Quotes

Although the word plaid is used in North America to describe a pattern, in Scotland, tartan is the pattern and plaid is a piece of clothing with a tartan pattern.
Rachel Walker holds the Guinness World Record for wearing the most Tartans within 60 seconds. Walker managed to put on 4 kilts within 60 seconds.
According to Martin Martin, author of A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland, a tartan served to distinguish residents of different regions. Eventually, the tartan was used as a symbol of belonging to a specific clan.
The major languages spoken in Scotland are English, Scottish Gaelic, and Scots.
Americans of Scottish descent have made enduring contributions to our Nation with their hard work, faith, and values. On National Tartan Day, we celebrate the spirit and character of Scottish Americans and recognize their many contributions to our culture and our way of life - US President George W. Bush, April 4 2008, Presidential Proclamation National Tartan Day, 2008.

In the News and Trending for National Tartan Day

Updated 06:04 It was all things Scottish on Tartan Day in Fergus

elorafergustoday.com

Colorado Tartan Day festival is back

longmontleader.com

Photos: Tartan Day South pushed through the rain in Cayce

lexingtonchronicle.com

Photo Gallery: Tartan Day South celebrates Celtic culture in the Midlands

coladaily.com

National Tartan Day Top Events and Things to Do

Create a tartan that is unique to your family clan.
Attend a Tartan Day parade. One of the largest Tartan Day parades is held in New York City.
Learn Highland dancing which originated in the Scottish Highlands.
Eat traditional Scottish foods including Haggis, Scottish porridge, Scotch broth, and shortbread cookies.
Play golf. Golf originated in Scotland during the 15th century.