It was a plaid world this weekend in New York City. As part of Tartan Week celebrations, the 27th annual NYC Tartan Day Parade kicked off with award-winning Scottish actor Alan Cumming as Grand Marshal. The parade and other events by organizers recognized the many contributions made by Scottish-Americans to the United States. Their contributions have been significant to various aspects of American life, including politics, science, technology, business, and culture, with notable figures like Alexander Hamilton, Alexander Graham Bell, and Andrew Carnegie leaving lasting legacies.
The pride of the Scottish was on display with an assortment of revelers and parade participants decked out in variations of beautiful plaid patterns. The precise plaid designs were draped, wrapped and expertly pleated to perfection in different clothing stylishly presented by parade participants. Plaid’s origins lie in the Scottish Highlands, where woven patterns, known as “tartan,” were used to identify different clans, with each clan having its own unique pattern. Over time, plaid became a broader term for the fabric and garments featuring these patterns evolved from a practical garment to a global fashion staple.
The NYC Tartan Day Parade and NYC Tartan Week seeks to attract the Scottish and Scottish-American artists, entrepreneurs, organizations, and more in an effort to promote, support, and develop deeper personal connections with Scottish heritage in America. National Tartan Day (April 6), a day declared by the U.S. Senate in 1998 to officially recognize the “outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish Americans to the United States.”
