July 1st: The Day Oz and NZ Get Their Tartan On

Brisbane celebrations for International Tartan Day

July 1st is International Tartan Day for Australia and New Zealand. There are some three million Australians who bare either Scottish or from Scottish descent, and the two countries celebrate Scottish culture in local Scottish-themed events such as highland dancing, wearing tartan, haggis, bagpipes, and many other stereotypes. July 1st is the anniversary of the Repeal Proclamation of 1782 annulling the Act of Proscription of 1747, which made wearing tartan a punishable offence (!).

   The most prominent message of International Tartan Day in Australasia is to encourage the nation to reconnect with their Scottish heritage, and revive tartan back into their ancestory. Moyna Scotland, the Scottish House secretary has stated: 'Scots did what they were told to do when they came to Australia: assimilate and integrate. They almost disappeared.' From 1822 a Tartan revival broke out in these countries, and today both Queensland and Australia have their own individual tartans. 

   In 1989, the Scottish Australian Heritage Council encouraged the public to wear tartan on July 1st to both indulge in nostalgia of Scottish-Australian history, and also to celebrate the reimmersion of Scottish culture down under. More than half a million citizens gather together for this cause, and many clans across the two countries hold private events to honour their Scottish heritage. For example, the McLeod clan participate in numerous Scottish traditions, such as Burns recitals, haggis eating and holding highland dances. Indeed, a butcher in 'the Scottish town of Australia', Maclean in New South Wales, celebrates July 1st by selling haggisburgers from his shop. I can't help but wonder how the infamously sensitive Scottish skin copes in the heat of Australasia though!