Few know that the Scots were once forbidden by law to wear their tartans. This measure was taken because of the rather irritating tendency (at least to the English) for the Scots to want to return he whom they believed to the ‘legitimate king’ to the throne of England. Said King, James, and his son, Bonnie Prince Charlie, came close to taking back the throne of England, but their efforts in 1715 (and again in 1745) ultimately failed. The Highland Scots were proscribed, and many took other names. In my case, the name Burden was adopted by the son of the chief of the Clan Lamont when he married a woman of that name…and ever since, we have been able to boast Highland Scottish heritage, wear the tartan of Clan Lamont, and recently, as my father discovered, claim the title “Baron” .
Through the efforts of Jean Watson, President of Clan Lamont in Canada, April 6th has been designated as Tartan Day, recognized by all Canadian legislatures and the Senate of the United States.
This probably explains why I found myself this past April 6th at the historic 200-year-old Government House in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as a guest of His Honour Brigadier General J.J. Grant, Lieutenant (pronounced “left”-tenant in Canada and the UK) Governor of Nova Scotia. The Queen’s representative in the Province of Nova Scotia, His Honour and his wife welcomed us to a reception celebrating Nova Scotia’s Scottish heritage. We were regaled with Scottish song and music, poetry, and dancing, then got to mingle with Scots of all ilks.
Many, including yours truly, wore kilts. My kilt, procured from Halifax’s “The Plaid Place”, was the traditional Clan Lamont pattern, echoed by fellow members of the Clan, who seemed the most numerous of attendees. This was hardly strange, for Tartan Day founder, Jean Watson, was in attendance.
After the ceremony we enjoyed tea, coffee, and home-made Scottish crumpets, and tidbits with Their Honours and other guests, catching up on the latest clan doings and speculating on who would win the upcoming Highland Games in Nova Scotia.
All-in-all, a most spectacular celebration of Nova Scotia’s founding culture. As they say to visitors to Scotland (and Nova Scotia, where Scottish Gaelic is still spoken in some places), cead mile failte, or “one hundred thousand welcomes”.
Curious? Feel free to explore your Scottish heritage in the most Scottish place in North America: Nova Scotia (“New Scotland”).
IF YOU GO…
Photo Credit
All photos courtesy of George Burden – All Rights Reserved
Please Share Your Thoughts - Leave A Comment!