Senate Resolution
Numerous groups and societies throughout Canada and America have taken the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath (1320) as their national date to celebrate their Scottish roots. On December 19th 1991, in response to action initiated by the Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada, the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming April 6th as Tartan Day, following the example of other Canadian provinces. America followed suit on March 20th 1998, when Senate Resolution 155 (S.Res. 155), proposed by US Senate Republican majority leader Trent Lott, was passed unanimously. The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows: S. Res. 155 Whereas April 6 has a special significance for all Americans, and especially those Americans of Scottish descent, because the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, was signed on April 6, 1320 and the American Declaration of Independence was modelled on that inspirational document; |
The History of Tartan DayUnited States National Tartan Day 2004 was celebrated across the country, not least in New York and Washington D.C. The Big Apple hosted the highly successful star-studded Dressed to Kilt fashion show organised by Sir Sean Connery's 'Friends of Scotland' charity in Sotherby's, the New York's St. Andrew Society's Pipes and Drums Parade on 6th Avenue and the 'Scotland Run and Exhibition' in Central Park.
The Scottish Parliament also hosted a reception for Scottish-Americans in the New York business and political communities in Central Park. The National Tartan Day Committee based in Washington hosted a Whisky-Tasting Reception on the Hill attended by Scottish-Americans from throughout the nation's capital, members of Congress and, of course, Sir Sean Connery.
There were many other Tartan Day events in 2004 in cities all across the States, and for the first time in Scotland, www.scotlandstartanday.com, organised by the Scottish-American community. The 2005 programme promises to be even more exciting! |
Declaration of ArbroathThe Letter of 1320 from the Barons of Scotland to Pope John XXII was composed during a two year truce from Christmas 1319 in the long war with England arising from Edward I's attempt to conquer Scotland in 1226. More than five years after the Battle of Bannockburn (1314) and despite other Scottish victories, Edward II persisted in the war and had enlisted the support of the Pope who consistently refused to recognise Robert Bruce as king.
As a diplomatic move, the Scots sent this collective Letter to the Pope to convince him they were united in their resolve to preserve their independence.
The Letter is framed as a petition to the Pope in the most the polished and eloquent Latin, believed to be the work of Bernard de Linton, Abbot of Aberbrothock (Arbroath) and Chancellor of Scotland.
It asserts the whole people's loyalty to king Robert the Bruce and their determination never to yield to England but to maintain freedom at all costs.
The original letter delivered to the Pope at Avignon is lost, but a contemporary copy made for the record is preserved in Register House, Edinburgh. |
