Tartan Day

For several centuries, tartan remained part of the everyday garb of the Highlander. Whilst tartan was worn in other parts of Scotland, it was in the Highlands that its development continued and so it became synonymous with the symbol of clan kinship. The English and Scots word "tartan" is most likely derived from the French tartarin meaning "Tartar cloth". It has also been suggested that "tartan" may be derived from modern Scottish Gaelic tarsainn, meaning "across".

According to Professor Murray Pittock, Bradley Professor at the University of Glasgow, it's clear that tartan was worn by Scottish clans as early as the 16th century. There is also evidence of tartan being fashionable at court during the reign of King James IV (1488–1513), as well as among kilted soldiers of Scotland.