Up Helly Aa Festival, in Lerwick, Shetland Islands
Posted on 04/04/2009 9:38:22 AM PDT by the scotsman
The annual Scotland Week celebration in North America is to kick off with Hollywood star Alan Cumming leading a parade through New York.
The star of the X-Men 2 movie has been chosen as grand marshal of the Tartan Day parade.
He will be joined by students from his former drama school, as well as politicians and celebrities.
Further events are planned in cities including Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago and Toronto.
The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama recently announced former student Cumming as the president of its new American Foundation.
In that role the actor will work with the RSAMD to launch an appeal for a scholarship fund in the US.
He said: "As an artist so much of what defines you and makes you unique is where you are from and the environment in which you learned your craft.
"For me, being Scottish and training at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama both define me and make me incredibly proud.
"I am honoured and delighted to be representing my country and spreading the message of the Academy at this year's Tartan Day Parade in New York City."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
‘The impact of the Scots immigrants on life in North America is beyond doubt – three quarters of US presidents have had Scottish roots and Canada’s first Prime Minister hailed from Glasgow. Americans have celebrated Tartan Day every April 6th since 1998. Now, with the number of people around the world interested in their Scottish roots and ancestry increasing, from New York, to Buenos Aires to Melbourne, Tartan Day has become Scotland Week!’
http://www.scotland.org/scotland-week/
Lemme guess. Hussein will be crowned King of the Scots and be presented with his family’s tartan before the week is out.
LOL! Who knew he was a wee Scotsman? Did Idi Amin dress in a kilt because one of his friends and advisors was a young Scottish doctor?
“If it ain’t Scottish -it’s clrap!”
Mike Myers Scottish character
Oddly idiot and obie lover Buffett is of Scottish descent. Good with money but never got any Scots common sense.
Up Helly Aa Festival, in Lerwick, Shetland Islands
Clamper1797 ... Gunn Clan ... his lady ... Stewart of Appin
Actually he does have Scottish ancestry...lol
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The area of NW Florida where I was born and raised was settled by Scots from the Western Islands. My Mother’s family came from Colonsay. My Father’s I am not sure tho they were Morrisons.
Never really knew that much about Scottish history but still am proud of my Scottish ancestors and a little ashamed of what the country has become.
This is pretty cool. I never knew they celebrated this. It is nice to see European Americans getting some notice. I think eventually they will have “European American Week”. I don’t know if they will break down each country or not.
My great-grandfather claimed Scotch-Irish decent.
I respect what that group brought to the U.S. and particularly the southern states.
That said, there is no way I am going to wear a Kilt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O88tBPpSW4&feature=related
Someone should tell Jon Stewart at Comedy Central, I’m sure he like to dance to the bagpipes and sport the Stewart clan tartan, in celebration of his Gaelic heritage.
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