Tartan Day News
April 7, 2002
Scotsman News Article >> 'March of the Tartan Army' by Alex Massie, view the full story.
March 16, 2005
National Tartan Day Site >> Welcome to the new National Tartan Day website where full details of the exciting events in April are now listed.
March 9, 2005
House of Representatives >> The House of Representatives today adopted the Tartan Day resolution sponsored by Congressmen Mike McIntyre and John Duncan. Mr. McIntyre, North Carolina Democrat, and Mr. Duncan, Tennessee Republican, spoke of the importance of Scottish-Americans to the development of the United States. They praised the Declaration of Arbaorth as an influence on the Declaration of Independence. "There are very few countries that have such close ties as the United States and Scotland," Mr. Duncan said. Congresswoman Candice Miller, Michigan Republican, served as the presiding officer for the session and stepped down from the speaker's podium to express her support for the resolution. Mrs. Miller noted that she is a second generation Scottish-American. Congressman Danny K. Davis, Illinois Democrat, also spoke in favor of the resolution. Mr. Duncan reviewed Scottish history, mentioning the Wars of Independence and the tyranny of England's Edward I, and the heroism of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Mr. McIntyre announced he and Mr. Duncan will lead a congressional delegation to Scotland beginning March 20 to present a copy of the resolution to the Scottish Parliament.
March 4, 2005
Tartan Day Celebrations in the U.S. and Canada - 2005 >> This year, the National Tartan Day Committee in Washington D.C, recognizes and honors the contribution of Canada to this great event. In 1991, the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming April 6 as Tartan Day. Since then, other Canadian provinces and numerous groups and societies throughout Canada and the US have taken the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath as the date to celebrate their Scottish roots. In 2003, the Scottish Parliament's then Presiding Officer, Sir David Steel MSP, met with then Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Leaders of the Senate and House of Commons to identify opportunities of future collaborative efforts.
Quebec visit >> Continuing in this fine tradition, Presiding Officer George Reid of the Scottish Parliament is coming to the United States and Canada during Tartan Week. He, and other members of the cross party delegation from the Scottish Parliament, will visit Quebec to meet with members of the Quebec Legislature. George Reid will also be addressing the Quebec Legislature (in French) during the celebrations in Canada, and the cross parliamentary group will then go to Toronto to visit with their Canadian peers.
Glenfiddich and Canada >> Peter Gordon of Glenfiddich (whose great grandfather was William Grant and connected to Lord Strathcona, who completed the Canadian Pacific Railway at Craigellachie), Ian Millar (Glenfiddich Distillery Manager) and others will be here in Washington D.C, to perform a "whisky live" demonstration and tasting. It is perfect theatre, with music, displays of whisky making by four Scots with a combined experience of almost 200 years in whisky making, and of course whisky tasting.