I have been involved in Kirking ceremonies with my clan.
That’s clan with a “c”.
I am careful not to wear that t-shirt around town. If I die, there will be no one to protect my family.
Had a close call once in KFC where I had to stand sideways the whole time so thugs could not read it.
What does “Kirkin of the Tartan” mean?
LOL!....I first read that as ‘Kickin’ Off the Tartan’..................
I first became interested in my Scottish roots at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. I only entered because a friend was competing and I came along.
One of the first things I noticed was a large awning/tent with the words “Clan McDuffie”. This was in 1970.
I walked over to them and talked to a guy named Fritz McDuffie. He asked where I was from and then said he was pretty sure he knew which branch of the family she was from.
He wrote her and Mother wrote back giving all her info. He then wrote Mother back giving her a line of her ancestors dating to the 1400s on the Island of Colonsay.
It turned out the Clan is officially “Clan McPhee” tho they admit that McDuffie is the older name.
I was involved in the Kirkin’ of the Tartan at my clan’s ( Murray of Athol Clan) gathering at Loon Mountain, New Hampshire.
“Kirk”, BTW, means church.
Must be one o' them Italian Scottish Presbyterians!
'Twas "at Loon" that I first made contact with my own clan, Clan Macpherson -- and where my son and I ordered our first kilts.
Anther thing I miss dearly is the (mostly) annual Kirkin' O' the Tartans, which is sponsored by my wife's clan, Clan Donald, and, is held in Boston's Old North Church (of "One if by sea" lantern fame...)
On the appointed Sunday, we clansmen would gather -- in our finest Highland Attire, of course -- somewhere down by the waterfront. Then -- led by Pipers & Drummers -- we would wend our way through back alleys and byways over to the Old Kirk.
I was always astonished at how, attracted by the skirl of the pipes, large, spontaneous, exuberant crowds of Boston residents would gather along our route and, with hearty applause, cheer us on our way!
At least one member of each clan present would bear a tartan scarf in his Clan's historic tartan, and, at the appointed time, would present it to the presiding Minister at the Pulpit. (Nowadays, at some of the larger Kirkin's a rack is placed beside the altar, and the tartans are displayed thereupon -- or the proud tartan banners of the clans represented are arrayed across the front of the kirk...)
In our Old North Church services, the Minister would drape the scarves across his arms, hold them up for all to view, and pray a prayer (paraphrased) something like this:
"O, Laird, we ask Thee to behold these divers cloths and to please accept them -- and these Folk who honor and wear them -- into Your Royal service. We pray that these Folk who wear these cloths be fathful in honor, obedience and fealty to Thee -- and that Ye bless them, and bless us all -- and bless us kindly..." Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~
Of course, following the service, the congregation always broke up into groups -- some by clan, and some "mixed" -- to go out for a bit of luncheon -- including [or not] a wee taste of "uisgea beatha" ("Water of life")
All in all, most memorable and stirring experiences!