National Tartan Day is a US observance on April 6 each year. It commemorates the Scottish Declaration of Independence, from which the American Declaration of Independence was modelled on. It also recognizes achievements of Americans of Scottish descent.

What do people wear on "Tartan day"?

1. Highland dress.

Highland dress is the traditional, regional dress of the Highlands and Isles of Scotland. It is often characterised by tartan (plaid in North America). Specific designs of shirt, jacket, bodice and headwear may also be worn along with clan badges and other devices indicating family and heritage.

Women's highland dress is also based on the clan tartan, either that of her birth clan or, if married, that of her spouse's clan if she so chooses. Traditionally, women and girls do not wear kilts but may wear ankle-length tartan skirts, along with a colour-coordinated blouse and vest. A tartan earasaid, sash or tonnag (smaller shawl) may also be worn, usually pinned with a brooch, sometimes with a clan badge or other family or cultural motif.

2. Kilt and sporran

Kilt and Sporran are types of skirt worn by Scottish men although women can wear it for Highland Dancing. It usually bears the tartan of the wearer’s family. Most worn today are known as the modern kilt, but older ones, called the great kilt, had more material that made up a top half that could be worn as a cloak. These could even be folded in ingenious ways that created pockets.

Sporran is a Gaelic word that means “purse.” It’s both decorative and functional. It’s a small pouch that serves as your pockets if your kilt doesn’t have any. Usually attached to a belt on the front of the kilt, sporrans can be made from a number of different materials, with the most traditional being deerskin.

What do people do on "Tartan day"?

Tartan Day celebrations include parades with pipe bands, highland dancing and sports, and other community gatherings with Scottish-themed events. While a variety of tartans are displayed, the maple leaf tartan is Canada’s official tartan.

There's a lot of dancing on Tartan Day. You might see either Scottish Country Dance, performed in groups, or Scottish Highland Dance, which is usually performed solo.

You’re also very likely to hear the unique cry of the most famous Scottish instrument: the bagpipes!

Bagpipes are exactly what they sound like: a bunch of pipes attached to a bag. The bag is inflated by blowing into it. This air then escapes through the other pipes, creating notes.

Most of the pipes make just one note, but one special one, called the chanter, has finger holes that allow the performer to play a melody.

The sound is hard to describe and definitely has to be experienced in person

How about the food?

Two most famous dishes of the Scotland are haggis and black pudding.

"National Tartan Day" is coming, hopefully, you will have a great holiday with your family and friends!