Tomorrow is Tartan Day where all Americans of Scottish descent show off their heritage. I do it every year, getting a little more into it than the last. I started out wearing a tie made from my families Tartan, then added a blazer with my family crest. Is this the year I cause havok at the office by wearing a full kilt? I don't know yet...
Here's a wee bit o my families Scottish history, summarized by the folks at scotclans.com.
The (name withheld to protect the innocent) claim to be descended from Crinan, Lord of Atholl, from whom sprang the royal house of Duncan I, the King of the Scots. The (name withheld to protect the innocent) clan is more properly called 'Clan Donnachaidh' from their ancestor Duncan, who was a staunch supporter of Robert the Bruce, and who led the Clan at the Battle of Bannockburn.
The general surname of the clan (name withheld to protect the innocent) was taken from Robert Riach (Grizzled Robert) the clan chief, who was known for his intense loyalty to the Stewarts. Riach was responsible for capturing the murderers of King James I, and was rewarded by the crown for this act by having his lands at Struan erected into a Barony.
The clan was also granted a symbolic memorial by additions to their coat of arms - subsequently the chief of clan (name withheld to protect the innocent) bore as his crest a hand holding an imperial royal crown, and underneath a man in chains, representing the regicide. About a century later, the (name withheld to protect the innocent) family lost the lands of Struan to the Earl of Atholl but the family regained them in 1606.
However in the seventeenth century, after the final defeat of James VII, all (name withheld to protect the innocent) estates were forfeited and the chief of the (name withheld to protect the innocent) clan joined the exiled court in France. To this day the chiefs of the clan (name withheld to protect the innocent) still have the right and privilege of interment in the family burial ground at Struan
Well, I'm sure anyone with a little effort can figure out my last name, but hey, you gotta work for it if you really want to know!
I hope you all have a great Tartan Day tomorrow!
10 comments:
Aye!!! LOL
Would ye be a Scottish lass? :)
Aye, I shuda known! The red hair, fiesty attitude, total hotness; it all adds up! :)
One of these days I'll make you blush; it's only fair... lol
neat post! I am not Scottish, but I wish I was...
BarnGoddess, From what I see, you have a very strong and proud heritage of your own! Thanks for stopping by.
no need to thank me for stopping by : )) I like reading here, pretty good stuff. I am in between books right now and I do not want to start a novel tonite, or I will not get any sleep~so I'm surfin' a bit
Yes, I am very proud of my heritage, I am lucky where I live now, the Osage's have accepted me as one of them and I get the same benefits in Oklahoma as the native tribes. I feel a bit outta sorts at times, I am a Saulte Chippewa and some of thier traditions/beliefs can get confusing.
But if I could choose my heritage, I like the way the Scottish are! So I'd pick Scottish, maybe Irish-sometimes I like a cold beer~
my daughters middle name is Campbell. Her grandmothers maiden name (the father side,) the colors are purple, green, black and maybe a hint of yellow not sure...Wish I knew, I would have through on her Campbell plaid.
Sorry I missed Tartan Day. Never knew it existed... does that make me a bad person? Anywho... hope you had a grand day!!! :)
BarnGoddess; I nominate you as honorary Scott, and my wife will offer you Irish heritage! Let's all have a pint to celebrate!
exfBonnie; check out the scot clans web site I linked too; you can find just about any clans Tartan and order all kinds of cool stuff! :)
Shayna, not to worry! Tartan day, while offically recognized, is not very well advertised. We're working on it tho! Glad you stopped in!
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