|
The Kirkin' o' the Tartans, literally,
“The Blessing of the Tartans”…
In 1746, in the wake of the Battle of Culloden, the last
of the Scottish rebellions, and in an effort to suppress
the Scottish clans, the British Parliament passed the Acts
of Proscription which state, in part, that:...
 The
Battle of Culloden. (Click image to see larger picture.)
"...no man or boy within that part of Great Britain
called SCOTLAND other than such as shall be employed as
Officers and Soldiers in His Majesty's Forces, shall, on
any pretext whatever, wear or put on the clothes commonly
called Highland clothes (that is to say) the PLAID, PHILABEG
or Little Kilt, TROWSE, SHOUDER BELTS, or any part whatever
of what peculiarly belongs to the HIGHLAND GARB."
For the next 36 years anyone found wearing clan tartan
was subject to arrest, imprisonment, or banishment to the
colonies.
At the same time, countless Scots were forced into the
British army to fight in several wars on the European mainland
and in the Americas. Tradition holds that during this time
the women of the highland clans whose men were far from
home would bring a small piece of their tartan to the Kirk
(church) with them to be blessed secretly and to pray for
heaven's protection for the clan and for its members--a
pretty story, but probably a legend.
Then, in 1941 Rev. Peter Marshall, who was at the time
Chaplain to the U.S. Senate, introduced a special worship
service celebrating the Scottish heritage of the Presbyterian
church at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington
D.C. where he was pastor. He hoped to promote solidarity
among American-born and native-born Scots who were once
again involved in a European war--World War II. It was
a huge success.
Since that time, the Kirkin' o' the Tartans has evolved
into a colorful, festive occasion for celebrating Scottish
heritage, asking God's blessing and protection for those
represented by the tartans, recognizing the historical
contributions of native Scots and Scottish-heritage Americans,
and celebrating the faith traditions of the Celtic and
Scottish peoples. The service is a creative blend of music,
hymns, and prayers from Scottish faith traditions. The
heart of the tradition is the presentation of their tartans
by representative clans and individuals, accompanied by
the sound of the bagpipes.
So what's
a tartan anyway?
Click here to learn a little more Scottish
history. |
