Kirkin' of the Tartan 
On Sunday March 9th at 10:40 a.m., a special service, the Kirkin' of the Tartan, will be held in the sanctuary of Grace Presbyterian Church.
In Scotland, the Kirk refers to the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian Church). While the Kirkin' O' The Tartan, as we know it, is an American creation, it is said to be a cultural legacy of the Scottish Highland Clearances. The defeat of Scottish patriots at the Battle of Culloden was the end of an era for Scotland. Many Highland chieftains either sold their ancestral lands or looked for new ways to exploit the land to earn more money. The local populations - no longer required for warfare - were 'cleared'. Many Scots left for America. In addition, the British Parliament passed the Parliamentary Act of 1746 which banned the tartan, along with the kilt, bagpipes, and battle weapons in an effort to destroy Highland Clan identity. Legend has it the defiant Scots secretly carried remnants of their tartans to church. The ministers would then add a blessing into the service for the tartans and the clans they represented.
The Reverend Dr. Peter Marshall, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C., had emigrated from Scotland.
In 1941, as the war in Europe was escalating, Rev. Marshall, held the first Kirkin' o' the Tartan on American soil.
Since 1954, the service has been held at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
The Kirkin' today represents a gathering of the clans and families of Scotland, to worship and to seek God's Blessing. Tartans are presented that represent Scotland's clans, families, regiments, and districts. The concept of receiving a blessing on the tartans on behalf of all those of the clan is still part of the tradition. The Kirkin' takes some of its order from a traditional Scottish church service.
Grace Presbyterian Church has celebrated the Kirkin' of the Tartan since 1992, when the first Panama City Highland Games & Scottish Festival were held.
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