XPost: rec.travel.cruises, soc.culture.scottish, rec.travel.europe   
   XPost: rec.music.makers.bagpipe   
   From: dontuse@fellwalk.co.uk   
      
   On 29 Oct 2006 17:17:07 -0800, "piperut"    
   wrote:   
      
   >On Reformation Sunday the Presbyterian Churches hold a "Kirkin' of   
   >the Tartan" service.  At the Kirkin'  the clans gather, and people   
   >now bring district, and military tartans to be blessed in the   
   >"Kirk".   
   >(Kirk is Gaelic for Chruch.).   Of course there is some controversy as   
   >if they every really blessed the tartan in the churches in Scotland   
   >during the time the wearing of the tartan was banned by the British   
   >Crown, but that is a moot point now.   
      
   I'm not sure how much of the tartan stuff is true and how much   
   invented quite recently   
      
   Google tartan myths and you get   
   "When King George IV came to Scotland in August 1822, Scott oversaw   
   the events. He invented a mythology of Highland customs and dress,   
   which were accepted as ancient tradition. The royal visit led to the   
   kilt being adopted as national dress. Highlanders and their ancient   
   traditions, dances and even Highland Games, all adapted or invented by   
   Scott, were given a prominent role in the ceremonies."   
      
   Surely they wore the plaid, but I dont think you had all the   
   demarcations that exist today. Still its all good fun, I suppose.   
   --   
   Mike Reid   
   Wasdale "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk/page01.htm"   
   (see website for email)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)