Kirkin‘ of the Tartans returns to St. Peter’s at 10:30 a.m. next Sunday, November 13. Wear your tartan, perhaps bring your earplugs, and come celebrate the Scottish roots of our Episcopal heritage (three nonjuring Scottish bishops consecrated American Samuel Seabury to the episcopate in 1784) with the St. Louis Caledonian Pipe Band.

Here is little bit of history of the custom.

After the Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746, the English Parliament banned wearing tartan, speaking Gaelic, Scottish music, dancing, or playing the pipes. Any person caught doing anything of these could be shot on sight, arrested, or exiled to the colonies. This ban lasted for 36 years.

Legend says the Highlanders devised a plan to hide a piece of tartan in their clothing during church. At a set time during the service, they would hold the tartan and bless it. When the Scots were forced to fight for the British Army, it is said that the women would take a piece of their tartan to the Kirk (church) to be blessed and to pray for protection of their clan. Thus came the Scottish celebration known as the Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan.

Re-printed with permission “What is the Kirkin’ of the Tartan?” Scottish Heritage Society of Sarasota, Inc.
October 2013 http://www.sarasotahighlandgames.com/html/kirkin_of_tartan.html.