Special Events
November 30, 2008Kirkin’ o’the Tartan
Anglican Church Celebrates Scottish Heritage
Members of the Order of the Tartan joined the congregation of St. George’s Anglican Church, 422 Broadway, on Sunday November 30 for the “Kirkin’ of the Tartan”. This event, which is said to have its roots in the British suppression of Scottish national identity in the 18th century, is observed on the Feast of St. Andrew, the first Sunday in Advent. The term “Kirkin”, which has its root in the Scots word for “church”, by tradition remembers the Act of Proscription, by which the British forbade the wearing of “highland garb” from 1746 to 1782. The ceremony was first brought to America by The Rev. Peter Marshall in 1941.
To celebrate their heritage, people of Scottish descent at the church and from the Columbus and LaGrange community dressed in their family plaid kilts, and members of the Order of the Tartan also displayed flags of their clans as well as the Scottish flag. Father Terry Keller of St. George’s blessed the tartans, and Jim Short of the Order of the Tartans read the 23rd Psalm in Scots dialect.
The Order of the Tartans is a group of
families from LaGrange and Columbus who promote their Scottish heritage
through such activities as an annual St. Andrews Dinner, a Robert Burns
Night, parades, and even a “Haggis Hurl”. While nearly 20 members of the
Order joined the St. George’s congregation for this event, when asked
how many members were in the Order its head, Anne Short, replied “Not
enough”. Interested persons can contact Anne at (706) 845-0503.
