Annual blessing of the tartan set for Sunday

Centuries ago, when the people of Scotland were under English rule and forbidden to wear their family tartans, Scots would find a way to honour their heritage in church B次元官网网址� or so the legend goes.

B次元官网网址淭he Scots took a little piece (of their family tartan) to church with them on a Sunday in a deep, innermost pocket and it was blessed in secret,B次元官网网址� said Irene Feir, secretary of the Victoria Joint Scottish Council. B次元官网网址淚 think a lot of people just say: B次元官网网址楾hatB次元官网网址檚 bunk,B次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 a legend thatB次元官网网址檚 been around a long time.B次元官网网址�

The Victoria Joint Scottish Council has upheld the tradition of blessing the tartan for some 20 years and will continue to mark the occasion this Sunday (April 15) at St. AidanB次元官网网址檚 United Church.

The blessing B次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址渒irkingB次元官网网址� of the tartan, depending on oneB次元官网网址檚 level of familiarity in Scottish dialect B次元官网网址� is open to all and will feature piper Walter Muir and words from Rev. Michael Caveney.

Tartan Day is officially April 6 in honour of the day in 1320 when Scotland gained independence. In Victoria, the council hosts KirkinB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址檕 the Tartan as close as possible to the 6th without interfering with Easter services.

Wear a tartan and celebrate Scottish culture, starting at 10 a.m. at St. AidanB次元官网网址檚 United Church, 3703 St. AidanB次元官网网址檚 St. in Gordon Head.

Refreshments will be served after the service. For more information, contact Feir at 250-652-5773 or kifeir@shaw.ca.

nnorth@saanichnews.com