World Tartan Celebrations
A celebration of the rich culture and heritage of Scotland, World Tartan Day takes place annually on April 6 to coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.
What is Tartan Day?
First established in 1987 in Canada, World Tartan Day now provides people across the globe with the opportunity to celebrate their Scottish roots and connections. Many people would agree that Scotland is far more than just a location and the Scottish spirit can be felt anywhere in the world.
In 1998, the U.S. Senate officially started to recognise this day of celebration to acknowledge and honour the myriad contributions and achievements made by Scottish Americans in the States. Today, celebrations in New York are amongst the largest anywhere in the world, which typically last for a week and end with a spectacular Tartan parade through the city’s streets.
In New Zealand and Australia, celebrations take place each year on July 1, which recognises the date that the Act of Parliament that had once banned tartan was repealed.
What Do Celebrations Include?
Scottish heritage is celebrated in myriad ways across the world, including parades, highland dancing, pipe bands, and theatre events. It is even thought that some butchers in Maclean in New South Wales mark this day each year by selling haggis burgers!
Kilt walks take place to raise money for charities across numerous Scottish cities including Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and a symbolic key to Arbroath Abbey’s gate is carried in Buenos Aires each year in a celebration organised by the Scottish Argentine Society.
In Ottawa, Ontario, the Gathering of the Clans takes place on the Sunday closest to April 6. Celebrations take place on Parliament Hill, and the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band host an afternoon of drums, pipes and dancing.
As in New York, the region of Angus in Scotland, within which Arbroath is situated, also has a Tartan Week, which has witnessed a variety of different events over the years, including a farmer’s market, archery competitions, storytelling events, traditional piping, mediaeval reenactments, and craft workshops.
Celebrate Tartan with Viyella This April
Many of our most popular shirts feature striking tartan patterns. Black Watch tartan was worn by Scottish soldiers for more than 200 years and can today be worn by anyone seeking to celebrate Scottish courage and loyalty, which is why it features in our core collection alongside Royal Stewart tartan. Arguably the world’s most recognisable tartan, The Royal Stewart Tartan was widely known as the late Queen Elizibeth’s personal favourite tartan and is also worn officially by pipers in the Scots Guards and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Our collection features both oversized and miniature versions of the Royal Stewart tartan, and it adorns ladies blouses as well as our classic fit and tailored fit men’s shirts.
Some of our other popular tartans include Holyrood, MacGill, MacMillan and MacDonald, all of which can be seen in our wider collection of shirts here.
As part of our Tartan celebrations here at Viyella, we are holding an up to 50% off sale, and you can browse every garment in this special offer on our sales page here. So, whether you’re looking for a beautifully crafted tartan shirt to celebrate all things Scottish or you are keen to invest in seasonal pieces from a heritage brand, our sale enables you to refresh your wardrobe at wallet-friendly prices. Our collection has something to offer all styles, including timeless silhouettes and iconic Viyella house fabrics in a range of wearable colours.
