Let's make haggis!
Today, April 6, is the national holiday for all Scottish Americans. More than eleven million Americans claim Scottish and Scots-Irish roots, making them the eighth largest ethnic group in the United States. From the framers of the Declaration of Independence to the first man on the moon, Scottish-Americans have contributed mightily to the fields of the arts, science, politics, law, and more. These are the people and accomplishments that are honored on National Tartan Day, April 6th.
The picture to the right is of Sean Connery with members of the United States Air Force Reserve's Pipe and Drum Band in Washington, DC. The occasion was Tartan Day, 2004.
On March 9, 2005, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted House Resolution 41, which designates April 6th of each year as "National Tartan Day.” National Tartan Day was created to recognize the contributions that were made by Scottish-Americans to the development of the United States.
Chief Sponsors were Congressmen Mike McIntyre from North Carolina and John Duncan from Tennessee. In addition to the two chief sponsors, the resolution had 54 co-sponsors, which include Congresswoman Candice Miller of Michigan, Congressman Danny K. Davis of Illinois and Congressman Alcee Hastings of Florida, who all addressed the House of Representatives in favor of the resolution.
This action completes the efforts that began in 1998 when the 105th Congress passed a similar resolution, Senate Resolution 155.
April 6 was chosen as that date commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which asserted Scotland's sovereignty over English territorial claims, and which was an influence on the American Declaration of Independence.
Canada has been celebrating "National Tartan Day" since 1993.
Because April 6 falls in mid-week, New York City's Tartan Day Parade will start at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 9th, 2011. Two thousand pipers and drummers will assemble for the 12th Annual New York Tartan Day Parade – New York’s biggest celebration for pipers, drummers, Scottish music and single malt whisky!
You can learn more at http://www.tartanweek.com and at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan_Day.
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