Miscellaneous Scottish
New Scotch, without the bagpipes
May-19-2006 20:53 | Permalink
Scotch whisky
has long been considered a drink men discover before
they die -- usually, not too many years before.
Part of the reason is physiological: Research suggests young adults' taste buds aren't ready for Scotch's bitter flavors.
But Scotch also has an image problem. Consider the music connections: Cognac and hip-hop. Rum and dub. Vodka and electronica.
Scotch and bagpipes.
Learn more here...
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Part of the reason is physiological: Research suggests young adults' taste buds aren't ready for Scotch's bitter flavors.
But Scotch also has an image problem. Consider the music connections: Cognac and hip-hop. Rum and dub. Vodka and electronica.
Scotch and bagpipes.
Learn more here...
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More on Tartan Day April 6
Apr-05-2006 07:03 | Permalink
Read more
here
ON March 17, 1762, the Irish members of the British military marched with bagpipes through New York City and began a tradition that has now become the largest St Patrick's Day parade in the world. Since then New York has become host to over 150 parades a year. To a New Yorker it often seems like every nationality and large social group has its own parade and we have become almost as jaded over them as we are about everything else.
But comparing the Irish event in particular to the Scots one is natural and it is understandable that many see St Patrick's Day as a benchmark for what the Tartan Day parade and Tartan Week should be.
Of course, the Irish have been celebrating St Patrick's Day as a religious holiday for centuries and they have been marching in New York as a show of strength and solidarity for 244 years. Tartan Day has only been nationally recognised for eight. But in eight short years Tartan Day has grown in popularity.
Celebrations are held in many cities of the US including the nation's capital, Washington DC, and, of course, the world's crossroads, New York City. In fact, in New York City an entire week is needed to fit in all the events that have been planned. But in certain ways, history does count. The St Patrick's Day parade became a symbolic way to unite the Irish during a time of great racism and discrimination. They used it as a way to remind each other that together they were strong and that being Irish gave you a voice in a greater group that you didn't have alone. That vision of inclusiveness remained, even later when the parade was used to promote tourism and help politicians gain the large Irish vote.
On the surface there seems to be no reason why a Scots version of the Irish "battling underdog" shouldn't similarly appeal to Americans.
Americans love looking to the past. They love all the kilts and tartan, bagpipes and shortbread stuff, and they love the spirit of Braveheart, which they see as not unlike their own pioneer spirit. Scotland may be a small place but it is well known over here that the Scots played a major role in the founding of America. Americans want to connect with tradition and heritage and they want to feel a part of something older and greater than themselves.
But there is a divide between the Scottish Americans and the Scots born in Scotland. Instead of the inclusive approach of the Irish's "Everyone is Irish on St Patrick's Day" we sometimes hear: "Yeah, yeah, everyone has a Scottish granny, that doesn't make you Scottish."
Another problem is that there seems to be some confusion as to what Tartan Week, with Tartan Day as the centrepiece, is really meant to be. Tartan Day in America, according to referendum 155, is meant to honour the many contributions Scots have made to the development of America.
April 6 was selected as the date of observance due to its significance as the day of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath, the document the Declaration of Independence is said to be modelled on. A chance, you would think, to show the world how many Scots there are here in America and how rich the Scottish traditions still are today.
When it comes to St Patrick's Day, the Irish seem happy to embrace all the stereotypes - the Guinness, the shamrocks - whereas the Scots seem a little more unsure what image they are trying to project. There are several political organisations, societies, clans and foundations that each have their own vision of what Tartan Week should be and at times it seems like each is only operating in their best interest. It is not uncommon to see one organisation undermining another to further their own event or agenda. Some are trying to push an "olden times tartan and shortbread" image to appeal to potential tourists to Scotland and some are trying to distance themselves from that to appeal to modern businesses.
So what are the Scots trying to achieve? Is it a week of cultural events and talks highlighting the best and the brightest minds and artists Scotland has to offer? Or a time to remind American Scots of the strength of their heritage and promote tourism? Or a big piss-up catering only to the world's glitterati? Why is it that some of these efforts smell of desperation?
In many ways, it is unfair to compare Tartan Week to St Patrick's Day - the Irish have had far longer to build their vision and sell it. But the Scots, from both sides of the Atlantic, need to answer some fundamental questions before Tartan Week can move out of St Patrick's shadow and into a limelight of its own.
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ON March 17, 1762, the Irish members of the British military marched with bagpipes through New York City and began a tradition that has now become the largest St Patrick's Day parade in the world. Since then New York has become host to over 150 parades a year. To a New Yorker it often seems like every nationality and large social group has its own parade and we have become almost as jaded over them as we are about everything else.
But comparing the Irish event in particular to the Scots one is natural and it is understandable that many see St Patrick's Day as a benchmark for what the Tartan Day parade and Tartan Week should be.
Of course, the Irish have been celebrating St Patrick's Day as a religious holiday for centuries and they have been marching in New York as a show of strength and solidarity for 244 years. Tartan Day has only been nationally recognised for eight. But in eight short years Tartan Day has grown in popularity.
Celebrations are held in many cities of the US including the nation's capital, Washington DC, and, of course, the world's crossroads, New York City. In fact, in New York City an entire week is needed to fit in all the events that have been planned. But in certain ways, history does count. The St Patrick's Day parade became a symbolic way to unite the Irish during a time of great racism and discrimination. They used it as a way to remind each other that together they were strong and that being Irish gave you a voice in a greater group that you didn't have alone. That vision of inclusiveness remained, even later when the parade was used to promote tourism and help politicians gain the large Irish vote.
On the surface there seems to be no reason why a Scots version of the Irish "battling underdog" shouldn't similarly appeal to Americans.
Americans love looking to the past. They love all the kilts and tartan, bagpipes and shortbread stuff, and they love the spirit of Braveheart, which they see as not unlike their own pioneer spirit. Scotland may be a small place but it is well known over here that the Scots played a major role in the founding of America. Americans want to connect with tradition and heritage and they want to feel a part of something older and greater than themselves.
But there is a divide between the Scottish Americans and the Scots born in Scotland. Instead of the inclusive approach of the Irish's "Everyone is Irish on St Patrick's Day" we sometimes hear: "Yeah, yeah, everyone has a Scottish granny, that doesn't make you Scottish."
Another problem is that there seems to be some confusion as to what Tartan Week, with Tartan Day as the centrepiece, is really meant to be. Tartan Day in America, according to referendum 155, is meant to honour the many contributions Scots have made to the development of America.
April 6 was selected as the date of observance due to its significance as the day of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath, the document the Declaration of Independence is said to be modelled on. A chance, you would think, to show the world how many Scots there are here in America and how rich the Scottish traditions still are today.
When it comes to St Patrick's Day, the Irish seem happy to embrace all the stereotypes - the Guinness, the shamrocks - whereas the Scots seem a little more unsure what image they are trying to project. There are several political organisations, societies, clans and foundations that each have their own vision of what Tartan Week should be and at times it seems like each is only operating in their best interest. It is not uncommon to see one organisation undermining another to further their own event or agenda. Some are trying to push an "olden times tartan and shortbread" image to appeal to potential tourists to Scotland and some are trying to distance themselves from that to appeal to modern businesses.
So what are the Scots trying to achieve? Is it a week of cultural events and talks highlighting the best and the brightest minds and artists Scotland has to offer? Or a time to remind American Scots of the strength of their heritage and promote tourism? Or a big piss-up catering only to the world's glitterati? Why is it that some of these efforts smell of desperation?
In many ways, it is unfair to compare Tartan Week to St Patrick's Day - the Irish have had far longer to build their vision and sell it. But the Scots, from both sides of the Atlantic, need to answer some fundamental questions before Tartan Week can move out of St Patrick's shadow and into a limelight of its own.
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National Tartan Day
Mar-29-2006 20:44 | Permalink
I know we are
an Irish Pipe Band, but that doesn't mean we can't
commemorate
National Tartan Day
on April 6.
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National Tartan Day
on April 6.
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