About: National Tartan Day

Tartan Day is celebration of Scottish heritage and the cultural contributions of Scottish and Scottish-diaspora figures of history. The name refers to tartan, a patterned woollen cloth associated with Scotland. The event originated in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1987. It spread to other communities of the Scottish diaspora and Scotland itself in the 1990s to 2000s. National Tartan Day, or just Tartan Day, in Canada, the United States, and Argentina is held on April 6, the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320. The same date is used for locally official Tartan Days in Angus and Aberdeen, Scotland; in the latter, it has since shifted into the charity fundraiser Kiltwalk, now running in four Scottish cities. International Tartan Day is held in various states of Australia and in New Zealand on July 1, the anniversary of the repeal of the Dress Act 1746, which had banned the male wearing of Highland dress in much of Scotland.