This Sunday all over the world many churches will observe the Kirkin’ o’ th’ Tartans , a celebration of Scottish heritage and culture.

What is The Kirking of the Tartans?

Etymologically it simply means:

Kirking, from the Scottish Gaelic word kirk which means church, in this usage means “blessing.”

Tartans are the traditional plaid emblems of Scottish clans represented in unevenly spaced colored lines and rectangles on woven wool cloth.

Historically, the story is a bit more varied. The popular legend goes as follows:

On July 25, 1745, the young Prince Charles Edward Stewart, “Bonnie Prince Charlie” returned from exile in France and landed at Lochnanaugh in Scotland where he began to enlist the Highland Clans for an unsuccessful attempt to dethrone George II of England and to restore the Scottish throne to the Royal House of Stewart.

History of Kirking of the Tartans | Bill Petro.