March 31, 2008
highlander 6: the fairway wood
3/31/08
Okay, so I went to WhiskyFest in New York last summer to gather information for an article, and all attendees got a bunch of swag: flasks, calendars, books, nosing glasses, that sort of thing. I hadn't opened up the entire bag until a few weeks ago when I noticed the official t-shirt celebrating National Tartan Day, the holiday for Scottish Americans coming up on April 6.
Now... National Tartan Day is the real deal, recognized by Congress, with huge parades. These shirts were handed out by old ladies who were quite earnest, with absolutely no giggling. My question to you, is: can they be frickin' serious???
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LOL!!!!! As if we didn't already know what's under those kilts.
Duncan McC@$k of the Clan McC@$k?
Seriously funny!
All it needs is drops of whisky
Och, Laddie, it's no April Fool's. Tartan Day's the real deal.
If St. Patty's Day (which commemorates an *English* monk fer gosh sakes) is practically a national holiday, why not Tartan day, which commemorates the Scots declaration of independence in 1320?
Remember: "If it isn't Scottish -- it's *crap*."
Ay...but don't neglect the wee step-children!
If you've wondered about the correct pronunciation of the names of fine scotch whiskies:
The only additional thing this photo needs is the word v*agra written on the Rx bottle in the right hand corner!
i really like the contrast -- the Irish have a day named for a saint, and the Scotch have a day named for ... a pattern of cloth.
It's worth looking up Tartan plaid in Wikipedia to read the history of tartan. The modern clan-associated tartan patterns were a 19th century invention, where heads of clans could submit their clan tartan to be registered.
This was at a time when the whole Clan system had become more notional than actual, and represented nostalgia for a past that never happened. The real ancient tartans were simple multicolor plaids made on hand looms from hand spun wool.
The 'clan tartans,' which began in 1815 includes many intricate patterns that were only practically reproduced on Jacquard machine looms, which were introduced only in 1801.
Of course us Williamses are, according to the Mormon geneologists amonst the Worsleys, descendants of William Wallace, and thus should wear the Wallace Tartan:
http://www.scotclans.com/img/scottish_clans/wallace/tartan.gif
I'll bet I had to look at the picture 3 or 4 times before I figured out what you were talking about. Maybe that's because my husband is not Scottish??
I supposedly am from the Ross clan, myself - great tartan that one!
http://www.scotclans.com/scottish_clans/clans/ross/tartan.html
LOL! Aren't you glad you finally looked in the bag??? That's way better than a flask in my book.
The only problem with that t-shirt is the bit that is white. I think the scoffers will find that patterns in garments - whether Irish knit sweater patterns or tartans - was a tradition that was a means to identify, among other things, the dead to their families. Sad to think that someone could be less than proud of such a fine thing. You may need to spend 30 minutes or so shouting "Jimmy" into the mirror to get a sense of your Scots heritage. Heedbutting optional.
oh, the shirt's not so bad. donate it to the salvation army if ya don't like it, laddie.