On this day, in 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath was signed. In 1998, the Coalition of Scottish Americans, in the United States, successfully campaigned for April 6 to be commemorated as National Tartan Day to pay homage to the “the outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish Americans to the United States”. The American Declaration of Independence was actually modeled on the Declaration of Arbroath and quite a big proportion of the Founding Fathers were of Scottish descent. Almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and nine of the 13 governors of the newly established United States, were Scottish.
Tartan is more than just a pattern; it tells a story. For some, it is a connection to family and heritage. For others, it is a symbol of pride and is completely engrained in Scotland’s identity. Our very own Wolfstone tartan was designed in 2008. The shades of gray are for our namesake, the Pictish Wolf Stone in Inverness, Scotland. The blue is to honor the sacred Woad plant that the early Celts used to paint themselves for battle. The burgundy stripe is to remember the blood spilled for Scottish independence. The white is for unity.
So, put on your tartan, wear it with pride and enjoy Tartan Day, today and every day!