April 6th of every year is National Tartan Day which honors those Americans of Scottish descent. Kentucky’s tartan is shown here, woven into a sash, and worn by Jackson Purchase Historical Society President Sarah Strange at the Society’s Fall Meeting, November 14, 2009.
In 2001, Glasgow, Kentucky was the host of the International Highland Games and the Kentucky Tartan was, it is believed, worn first there.
The tartan is green, bluegreen, blue, grey, yellow, red, white and black in color; each color represents a different attribute of the state and its citizens. For a more detailed discussion, see the History of the Commonwealth of Kentucky Tartan at www.kentuckyunited.org/tartan1.html.
There are different ways to wear the sash, each according to the different circumstances of the wearer. Sarah is wearing the style worn by a Clan Woman. Other styles are for women who are wifes of Clan Chiefs or Colonels of Scottish Regiments, women who have married out of their clans but who still wish to use their original clan tartan, and a style for women who for one reason or another (dancing!) want to keep the front of their dress clear of the sash. For a discussion and pictures of these styles, see the website of the Clan Gregor at www.clangregor.org/history-tartan-women.html.
Most states have a tartan and to wear your state’s tartan is a nice display of state pride. Kentucky’s tartan is especially beautiful. Hopefully, you will inspire others to show their pride in Kentucky!
I hope so, too. Our tartan is so colorful that it goes with almost any color (a feminine viewpoint, I know!) Unfortunately, younger women today are not using accessories like my generation. We were always wearing scarfs, pins, necklaces, and pieces of fur around our necks!!