Tartan Day Festivities Delight

I am of a Scot-Irish heritage, and my little Celtic heart swells when the calendar finally turns to Missouri Tartan Day weekend. 

The Missouri Tartan Day Festivities is the St. Louis area's premiere Scottish-American cultural event. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose  objective is to showcase Scottish-American culture and promote good will through music, dance, food, athletics, storytelling and a variety of interactive activities.  Visit our family-friendly festival and sample traditional Scottish fare from one of our many vendors, or enjoy the sounds of pipers as they stroll the grounds of beautiful Frontier Park.

Tartan Day celebrates the historical importance of the estimated six million people who claim Scottish descent, and is held on April 6, the anniversary of the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was created in 1320.

We took the time to visit the festitivies at Frontier Park on both Saturday and Sunday - and because we did, I was able to speak to a few vendors, volunteers and performing musicians.

Perhaps the most memorable of the volunteers is married couple Debbie and Rick Bruce, inveterate volunteers for many festivals held in St. Charles. This weekend, they did not choose to simply help ONE organization, but "bounce around between whoever needs it." Namely, the Shriners  tent and The Scottish–American Military Society. SAMS is a non-profit organization with a purpose - to preserve and promote Scottish and American Armed Forces customs, traditions, and heritage. Debbie and Rick's photograph is included in this article's gallery.

Their family's clan was also included in the Tartan Day's "Clan Village," with many others. An annual favorite, the Clan Village has many colorful displays of the histories of various Scottish family groups - or clans. If you, too, have Scottish roots, you may enjoy learning the history of famous Scottish names - or the infamous feuds.

Because we were fortunate enough to spend so much time this weekend in St. Charles, we had the joy of seeing many performers. Namely, Mother Grove, Pictus, the St. Louis Caledonian Pipe Band, and the dancers of Dance Caledonia and The Flower of Scotland Dance Troupe.

Mother Grove is an old favorite of mine - I own several of their seven CD's, and always enjoy the fun, high energy shows. They are truly something special, with their rocking Celtic music.

Pictus, however, was new to me. Their band name stems from the Latin word meaning "painted," which is a nod to the body-painting rituals of primitive Celts, Picts and Gauls. While on stage, the lead drummer announced that their style is, "Very primal. We want to punch you right in your ancestory. The drums, the pipes, that's where our music is from, especially if you have Celtic blood." Oh, goodness, they certainly did. The unique combination of drums, Irish penny whistles and a beautifully played bagpipe called to my Scot-Irish heart, and left me wanting more.

I'm now anxious for the weekend of April 6, 2014 for the next Tartan Day Festival. Will you be joining me?