Introduction

Tartan Day is a day for people of Scottish descent to celebrate their heritage. The 6th of April is the anniversary of the day in 1320 when the Declaration of Arbroath was written. The letter was written by Scottish barons to the Pope (Pope John XXII), declaring Scotland’s independence.

Tartan cloth has a long history; today, it is associated with Scotland, but the oldest example of this type of chequered, multicoloured cloth was found in the tombs of mummies, which are around 4,000 years old. Unusually, these mummies were not found in Egypt but in the Tarim Basin, an area of northwest China!

Tartan designs have become associated with Scottish clans or families, but this is a fairly modern development. During the 18th century, large-scale production of cloth came with the development of industrial looms. Tartans began to be given names as a way of identifying different patterns.

Teaching Ideas and Resources

• Create your own tartan with this interactive designer.
• Design an outfit that features tartan.
• Watch this video to see how tartan is made today.