The Country Pundit, being of English background by way of Pennsylvania some time between the 1760s and the 1890s, doesn't generally fit in where Scottish heritage issues are raised.¹ With that being said, I'm also generally supportive of "British Isles" heritage celebration, due to my Angophilic interests and for some ill-defined reason that probably runs deep into post-graduate explorations of culture and society, none of which I'm willing to do.

Nevertheless, I present something called "Tartan Day", sponsored by a gal named Ith over at Absinthe & Cookies. The significance of this is as follows, borrowed from I Love Jet Noise:

Why Tartan Day? On April 6th, 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath was drawn up at Arbroath Abbey, declaring Scottish independence from England.

OK, so the Scottish were ungrateful. Go to all that trouble to exploit them going and coming, and they have the cheek to go and declare independence. Well, you'll note that William Wallace gets it in the end! Snide Derbyshire-ian remark aside, this is a neat little thing, and I'm happy to publicize. (Bob in legal says we can't use that; it would suggest that we've actually got readers. --Ed.)

Oddly enough, I have in recent years had a fair affinity for "Highlands" culture, be it Irish-Celtic or Scottish in origin; a bagpiper's always a good way to get my favorable attention, and I've always enjoyed a Celtic festival or two in terms of music. What's creepy is that it just happened. Perhaps my ancestors predicted the trans-Atlantic flight patterns of the 1940s and 1950s in reverse, stopping off in Shannon before heading to the New World.

So with that, Happy Tartan Day.

Now Playing: The overture from Elizabeth. I swear I didn't pick that on purpose; it was a random selection by me out of my carefully hoarded folder of home-made MP3s. However, you've got to admit that it's an amusing coincidence, considering the issue of Scotland and Mary Stewart comes up during the movie.

¹ I did however figure out that my ancestors et cetera were from the county of Yorkshire. This is appropriate, if creepy, on three levels: Yorkshire was important to Richard of Gloucester, who reigned as King Richard III. I'm actually kind of fond of old Richard, having sunk money into the McKellen movie of the same name and at least two books on the guy. Secondly, Yorkshire is the home of John and Charles Wesley, the two men most famous for founding what is today's United Methodist Church. Thirdly, Yorkshire has the Settle-Carlisle line of the old Midland Railway, which is represented in Microsoft's Train Simulator, and which I occasionally play at driving upon. Richard III, religion, and railroads-if I could raise an eyebrow, I would. Curiouser and curiouser.

Posted by: Country Pundit at 07:23 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 462 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Google is a wonderful thing (you didn't leave a link in your lovely email) I'm actually totally English ancestry on my father's side of the family (Scottish and a bit o' Irish on my mum's). My grandparents met in Canada after their families moved to B.C. when they were teenagers. I'm very proud of that aspect of my ethnic heritage as well. Though with the mix,I do tend to do mental battle with myself sometimes! Elizabeth I has been a long time heroine of mine. I never much cared for Mary though.

Posted by: Ith at April 06, 2004 08:34 PM (yriZm)

Hide Comments | Add Comment