National Tartan Day in Canada
Tartans of all varieties are worn on Tartan Day, which recognizes and celebrates the contributions of Scots and their descendants in Canada on April 6.
What Do People Do?
Tartan Day celebrations include parades with pipe bands, highland dancing and sports, and other community gatherings with Scottish-themed events. While a variety of tartans are displayed, the maple leaf tartan is Canada’s official tartan.
Public Life
Tartan Day is an observance and not a public holiday in Canada.
Background
On October 21, 2010, the Minister of Canadian Heritage officially declared April 6 as Tartan Day. It is celebrated on April 6 because it is the anniversary of the signing of Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, the Scottish declaration of independence. In Canada, the day originated in the late 1980s in Nova Scotia, where it was declared an official day by the provincial government. It then spread across the country, with many provinces joining in.
National Tartan Day Observances
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday Type | Where It is Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | Apr 6 | 2010 | National Tartan Day | Observance | |
| Wed | Apr 6 | 2011 | National Tartan Day | Observance | |
| Fri | Apr 6 | 2012 | National Tartan Day | Observance | |
| Sat | Apr 6 | 2013 | National Tartan Day | Observance | |
| Sun | Apr 6 | 2014 | National Tartan Day | Observance | |
| Mon | Apr 6 | 2015 | National Tartan Day | Observance | |
| Wed | Apr 6 | 2016 | National Tartan Day | Observance | |
| Thu | Apr 6 | 2017 | National Tartan Day | Observance | |
| Fri | Apr 6 | 2018 | National Tartan Day | Observance | |
| Sat | Apr 6 | 2019 | National Tartan Day | Observance | |
| Mon | Apr 6 | 2020 | National Tartan Day | Observance |
Quick Facts
Tartan Day is a special day for Canadians to celebrate their national, provincial, territorial or personal tartans.National Tartan Day 2017
Thursday, April 6, 2017National Tartan Day 2018
Friday, April 6, 2018Name in other languages
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| National Tartan Day | English |
| Fête du Tartan | French |
| Der Tartan Day | German |
Other holidays in April 2018 in Canada
- Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 1, 2018
- Easter Monday – Monday, April 2, 2018
- Orthodox Good Friday – Friday, April 6, 2018
- Last day of Passover – Saturday, April 7, 2018
- Orthodox Easter – Sunday, April 8, 2018
- Orthodox Easter Monday – Monday, April 9, 2018
- Yom HaShoah – Wednesday, April 11, 2018
- Isra and Mi'raj – Friday, April 13, 2018
- Yom HaAtzmaut – Thursday, April 19, 2018
- St. George's Day – Monday, April 23, 2018
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