National Tartan Day

April 06, 2012

You may not know this, but April 6 is National Tartan Day. National Tartan Day was first recognized by the United States Senate in 1998, followed by the United States House of Representatives in 2005 and a Presidential Proclamation signed in 2008. It celebrates the contributions of people of Scottish ancestry to American society. Millions of Americans are descendants of Scottish immigrants: including several former presidents, the first man to walk on the moon, and many other distinguished citizens such as Andrew Carnegie, who was the single greatest benefactor of public libraries in the history of the United States.

Tartans are the plaid patterns that are woven into Scottish kilts. Each Scottish clan has its own distinct tartan. As an American of Scottish ancestry and a member of Clan Cameron, I am wearing the Clan Cameron tartan today in honor of National Tartan Day. If you are interested in Scottish culture, history, or genealogy, please stop by the library and check out some of the many resources we have to offer on these subjects.

Alba gu brath!

Stephen Chalmers
Excelsior Springs Branch