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Many of ye regular visitors to the Paradise have probably wondered why yer auld Uncle Fergus hasn't fully devoted much o' the site here to explorin' in depth the real traditions of Scottish culture. Well, somehow I had a feelin' ye were gonna ask me that; so here be somethin' to assuade the more brainy amongst ye lads an' lassies in our surfin' audience. Now pay attention, please, because we're about to tell a tale of distinct reverence and strong Scottish spirit. I give ye, then...
The Kirkin' o' the Tartans is basically North American as far as tradition goes; yet its origins are as deeply rooted in the lore of Scottish history as the legend of Braveheart itself. In the year 563 AD, St. Columba, having discovered the tiny isle of Iona in Scotland, had succeeded in converting the previously paganist Picts to Christianity. The resulting Church soon became a primal piece in the fabric of day-to-day Scottish life.
Now, if ye know yer Scottish culture, ye know that Scots have always displayed strong Christian convictions, no matter what faiths they worship under. Moreover, they steadfastly observe Sunday as a high holy day, in accordance with the Fourth of the Ten Commandments --- "Remember the Sabbath day; to keep it holy."
Now, let's learn where the tartan part of this tale comes in. Tartans have long played a major role in Scotland's history and culture. In the beginning, the various tartans of all known Clansmen represented the people of certain districts; in later years, however, the tartans came to stand for all Scottish Clans, including their septs and families --- regardless of whatever name they bore.
The original dyes which were used to color the wool were usually made from the vegetables grown in each family's garden, whereas the fabric undoubtedly came from the wool of the sheep that they raised. In that sense, the tartan often stood as a symbol of the hard labor and diligence of the Scotsmen.
As the life and work of the Scots was depicted via the composition of the tartans, so too was Christianity and the Kirk interwoven into their family lives and traditions. How fitting, then, that the idea might come to pass that the tartan should be brought to the Kirk to be blessed before the Lord.
Over the years, as both the tartans and the Scottish Church evolved, most Clansmen and their families would explore new, innovative ways to wear their colours proudly, while simultaneously observing the Lord's Day as they saw fit. Among the most frequent of these observances was the Sunday Tartan Service, during which the Sunday or dress kilt was often worn. This was a finer-quality woolen kilt with more white wool than that of the average everyday kilt.
Now, as many of you who know your Scottish history are aware, Scotland's tartans played significant roles in the Highlanders' dress codes, as well as in their distinct battle uniforms. As the English ultimately discovered, the tartan was, more than anything else, central to the Scots' overall identity and purpose. In fact, it was, putting it bluntly, their most common link. Because of this, each year an annual service was held at which the Clansfolk, dressed in their finest tartan colours, rededicated each other to their Heavenly Father; and praised Him in eternal gratitude for His having watched over them during the year just past.
Some historians tell us that an event much like the aforedescribed took place around the time of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500's. But by the time of the events culminating in the Proscription Act of 1746, it had become illegal to wear or even to display the tartan, much less play the bagpipes or sing Highland songs. As a result, the Rededication Service obviously could not be held.
Yet the Scotsfolk remained determined to hold fast to their ancient identities and the true meaning of their blessed rites. To that end, a sort of 'underground' Kirkin' o' the Tartans would often be held. The Clansfolk would usually walk to their nearest Kirk in an orderly fashion, sometimes carrying upon their person swatches of the material, appropriately concealed, to be 'kirked'. Then, at a time and pre-arranged signal known only to both clergy and parishioners, the Clansmen and Clanswomen would fondle their tiny tartan bits, while the presiding minister blessed the cloth in fluent Scottish Gaelic.
At this point, the history of the Kirkin' o' the Tartans becomes rather vague in terms of its continuance throughout history. Though the Rededication Sunday Service was eventually restored, no further references to such a service are known to be recorded in any subsequent printed histories of Scotland. And so, fast forward to the mid-20th Century..... and a man named Dr. Peter Marshall.
Many historians of the Kirkin' o' the Tartans agree that it was Dr. Marshall who, on April 27th, 1941, presided over the first Kirkin' o' the Tartans ceremony ever held on American soil. The event took place in Washington, D.C., at what was then known as the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. At the time, Dr. Marshall --- himself a native Scotsman, having been born in Glasgow --- was Chaplain of the St. Andrew's Society of Washington, D.C. As a result of his pioneering efforts as Presiding Minister for this first U.S. Kirkin', Dr. Marshall was named the very first Chaplain of the United States Senate --- a post he would hold for what proved to be the final three years of his life. Eventually, Dr. Marshall's widow, Catherine, recounted her late husband's life, deeds and service to his Lord in her now-classic yet completely hard-to-find biography, A Man Called Peter. In 1955, under Henry Koster's direction, 20th Century-Fox's film version of A Man Called Peter became one of the last U.S.-based productions to star veteran London-born actor Richard Todd. Todd's performance as the adult Dr. Marshall has often been considered a classic piece of acting, and an inspiration to the would-be priests and/or clergymen all across America who obviously saw and heard their calling through this relatively rarely-known chapter in the annals of American --- and Scottish --- history.
Since 1954, the Kirkin' o' the Tartans as conceived by Dr. Peter Marshall has been held at Washington, D.C.'s historic National Cathedral; with its sermon being delivered by the Presiding, or Senior Minister of the Washington, D.C. Catholic Archdiocese; or by a special guest speaker, primarily one of Scottish and/or Scottish-American background. There are similar Kirkin' o' the Tartans services staged in cathedrals across all 50 States, as well as similar ceremonies held throughout Canada. Some of these are very formal, while others are more casual; this depends, of course, upon the character of both the church setting and the preference of the event coordinators. A Kirkin' may be held at any given time of the year; but the three most popular occurrences usually are: the early-to-middle Spring season; Robert Burns' birthday (this may vary in certain circles); and, during November, St. Andrew's Day.
Most Scottish Games in the U.S. are occasionally two-, three-, or four-day weekend events; the Kirkin' o' the Tartans is often a top event on these specific schedules, and is often led by a local clergy- or lay-person.
But of course, the heart of every Kirkin' o' the Tartans service is always the Presentation of the Tartans of the Clan, Regiment and/or Region .... a constant symbol of the rededication of Scotsfolk everywhere to the service of our Heavenly Father. Keep in mind, however, that because the terms 'service' and 'God' are perceived by different peoples of different faiths, the preceding descriptions cannot be bound by the tenets of any one specific religion. Nonetheless, the Kirkin' o' the Tartans will always serve as an acceptable exercise for all peoples, all faiths --- enhanced by such wonderful elements as the singing of the Psalms, the dignity, honor and sacrosanctness of the Presentation, and the close bonds of fellowship shared by those who become a part of this very unique, extremely reverent ceremony.
The following Kirkin' o' the Tartans Prayer, presented herein for educational purposes only, has been freely adapted from a version written by Ralph Gunn for services held as part of the Longs Peak, Colorado Scottish-Irish Festival:
The following text represents what the standard order of worship for a typical Kirkin' o' the Tartans service should look like. It is based on the order of worship schedule for Kirkin' ceremonies held during the Seattle Scottish Highland Games:
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