Tartan Day – the history behind it
The History behind 1 July Tartan Day
On the 1 July every year many countries around the world where there are Scots descendents, someone will be celebrating Tartan Day.
Waipu Highland Band
The Battle of Culloden of 1746 was the final battle of the Jacobite Rebellion also known as the 45. The Jacobites sought to install the ‘Young Pretender’, Bonnie Prince Charlie on the thrones of Scotland and England but their plans were thwarted with the terrible slaughter of both the battle and its aftermath. The famous ‘Skye Boat Song’ which many of us learnt as children, (Speed Bonnie Boat like a bird on the wing etc) tells of the mysterious escape of the young Prince ‘over the sea to Skye’
“The Act of Proscription” Which was passed in 1747 forbade the Highlanders to wear Tartan, play the pipes, or carry weapons – and was effectively the final death knell for the clan based way of life that had existed in the Highlands for over a thousand years.
However, eventually, the British army would realise that amongst the ranks of the young, dispossessed highland warriors, the tartan and the pipes were of special significance for maintaining morale…
And do on 1 July 1782, 4o years and two generations after the infamous ban, the “Act of Proscription” was repealed, making it lawful once again for Schottish Highlanders to wear tartan and play the pipes. Since then the anniversary of the Repeal Proclamation’ has been annually celebrated as tartan day.
· Back to TopWaipu Began Celebrating Tartan Day as part of its Winter@waipu programme since 2006 MORE
www.waipu-tartan.co.nz
