History

Angus and seven other local authorities including Stirling and East Lothian celebrated Tartan Day on 6 April. The Declaration of Independence took place on this date 689 years ago in 1320.

The event in Angus was marked by a week of events including a re-enactment of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath Abbey by Arbroath Abbey Timethemes. Adults, children and even a dog (Bracken the wolfhound) took part in the signing ceremony and performed 'The Scribe's Tale', a play recounting the dramatic days leading up to the signing of the declaration as told by Brother Ralph, an old Abbey scribe. Richard Irvine, director of Arbroath Abbey Timethemes, who wrote the script for the play explains:

A Scribes Tale at Arbroath Abbey

'Each year we try to put a different interpretation on the story. This year it was to show that the declaration wasn't just about the high and mighty of the land... but to show that the ordinary people of the land had an input into it'.

The Declaration of Arbroath was a letter to Pope John XXII sealed by 51 Scottish nobles asserting independence of Scotland. The declaration stated that independence of Scotland was the prerogative of the people (rather than the king). The declaration is in Latin and is believed to have been written by Bernard de Linton, Abbot of Arbroath Abbey and Chancellor of Scotland.

The first Tartan Day took place in New York in 1982 and was then officially recognised in 1998 when the US Senate majority leader, Trent Lott, put forward a resolution on Tartan Day. The resolution was passed unanimously in recognition of the contribution that Scotland has made in the development of the United States. April 6 was chosen as the date to coincide with the signing of the declaration of independence.

Trent Lott and Angus Provost Leslie Melville

Trent Lott was guest of honour at this year's events in Angus and attended the play as well as having a tour of Arbroath abbey. He said he was delighted to have established Tartan Day in America to celebrate Scottish history and said the Declaration of Arbroath was a forerunner to the Declaration of Independence in America with its emphasis on freedom and liberty.

Tartan day came home to Scotland in 2004 with Angus holding a series of events to mark the declaration of independence and celebrating Tartan Day. Since then Tartan Day has grown into Tartan Weeks in Angus and Stirling. Six other local authorities have now joined in the events celebrating Scotland's history and culture.