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My Tartan Day

Article added by: David on 13 August 2008

As webmaster here at kiltmakers.co.uk you can guess that Tartan Day is quite a big deal! Here’s my Diary from the day:

An air of excitement filled my house on the morning of Saturday 2^nd August; it was Aberdeen’s 5^th annual Tartan Day. This day is close to my heart as thousands of people celebrate our Scottish heritage, culture, language and the way tartan keeps our traditions alive.

As I left my house to catch the bus to our shop in Schoolhill I was stopped by a young man who asked if he could take my photograph as he was intrigued by my kilt, funny to think I will now be in his photo album, this made me feel very proud of my heritage!

Looking around me on my way to the shop I could see the streets busy and adorned with tartan and on approaching the stall that we had set up outside the shop I was thrilled to see it was buzzing with activity. As I got closer I realised why our stall was so busy, we had teamed up with the local distillery Glen Garioch to offer people a taste of the local whisky, it’s smooth taste proved to be a very popular choice!

At 11 O.clock the Junior Buchan Pipe Band warmed up their pipes, the drummers their sticks and we were treated to an impressive music delight. The band drew the crowd in to enjoy the performance, although they didn’t seem to stray too far away from the whisky! Jill McHaffie who is in charge of the band told me that the youngest member is eleven years old and the Pipe Major who leads the band as they play was the oldest at nineteen. They have competed in competitions and next year they will be in contention for the top honours.

At midday a mass tartan march began along Union Street by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, made up of 10 pipe bands and comprising 120 pipers. Following on from the pipe bands was the pageant parade which included performers from the Aberdeen International Youth Festival costumed historic characters, dignitaries and some local celebrities, I later learned that the characters were a battle re-enactment group and they were to perform later in the afternoon.

After lunch I went along to Union Terrace Gardens where Stephen Robertson officially opened the afternoon’s proceedings. He was part of the famous comedy group from Aberdeen called “Scotland The What” along with George Donald and Buff Hardie. In more recent times, he has been awarded with the freedom of the city and been made Rector of Aberdeen University. Suffice to say, he gave a very funny speech to open proceedings. This was followed by a Scottish tribal drumming band called Albannach that features a piper, accompanied by energetic drumming.

I finally headed back to our shop to discover the Junior Buchan Pipe Band was still playing at 3:30, still managing to draw in a crowd. Unfortunately this was the end of my tartan day, but what a wonderful day and a wonderful event, I can’t wait until next year!

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A visit from Whiskyföreningen vid TF

News Category: Events, Latest News

Article added by: David on 7 April 2008

Last week Alex Scott (the physical store of kiltmakers.co.uk) were delighted to welcome some visitors from Helsinki. Whiskyföreningen vid TF is a whisky appreciation society with a current membership of about seventy. The members are mostly students at Helsinki Technical University but also include some post-graduate members.

The main activities of the society are to organise whisky tastings and excursions. They are also keen to introduce their members to Scotland as they feel it is important to see the home of whisky!

We were lucky to meet some of their members and show them another aspect of Scotland, the Highland outfit. We were able to let them see kilts, and in some cases try on kilts. They also met Margot who is our kilt maker.

We enjoyed meeting the society members and we wish them all the best with the expansion of their society.

If you are interested in whisky and can speak Finnish, you can view their site at
http://whisky.teknologforeningen.fi/

If you are interested in kilts, you are already in the best place. We will be happy to help you buy a made-to-measure kilt in your tartan.

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A Very Happy Birthday Mr Burns.

News Category: Events

Article added by: Pauline on 25 January 2008

Jan 25th sees Scottish folk toast the life of Robert Burns, born 1759 in Alloway, just 150 miles South of us here in Aberdeen.

The annual celebration of his life, poems and songs will be celebrated across Scotland tonight and over the coming weekend. Our cold winter evenings will be warmed with formal Burns suppers, where the great Bard’s life will be celebrated and his poetry read out loud.

To enjoy your own Burns Supper - all you need is a place to gather, plenty of haggis, neeps and tatties, a bunch of friends, a master of ceremonies, and good Scotch drink to ward off the bitter northern winds. These ingredients will ensure a good giggle as you try to do justice to great words and spirit of Robbie Burns.

Robert Burns

Ideally, everyone should bring along some of Rab’s poetry to read out or maybe a song to sing (there’s plenty on the Internet.) In this way everyone gets involved and can take turns in being the object of amusement to all gathered. It’s not hard to see why this tradition has been continued for so long - Burns Suppers are always fun - often eye-watering funny.

For the majority of us, Burns is best known and most often sung song, reminding us that Burns is a poet of friendship. Auld Lang Syne is now generally sung at the end of a convivial evening and at New Year the world over.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
Tho’ they return with scars?
hese are the noble hero’s lot
Obtain’d in glorious wars
Welcome, my Varo, to my breast
Thy arms about me twine
And make me once again as blest
As I was lang syne

Methinks around us on each bough
A thousand cupids play
Whils thro’ the groves I walk with you
Each object makes me gay
Since your return the sun and moon
With brighter beams do shine
Streams murmur soft notes while they run
As they did lang syne

A very happy birthday Robbie Burns!

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Visit Us at Tartan Day 2007

News Category: Events, Latest News

Article added by: Pauline on 1 August 2007

This Saturday (4th August) is the annual Tartan Day here in Aberdeen.

We’ll be out on the street joining the revellers as our shop is located directly on the route for the parade at 12pm. We’re preparing a fun day of events including Pipers, Whiskey tasting and (of course) plenty of freebie’s for the kids!

Activities start at 11am and run throughout the day. Further information is available on Aberdeen City Council’s Website.

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