HYACINTHS FOR THE SOUL

Monday, April 6, 2020

Tartan Tea Party

Celebrating

~ National Tartan Day ~ April 6 ~

Bluebonnet Tartan

Like others across the globe, many Texans will no doubt celebrate National Tartan Day on April 6, 2020. The official State Tartan, Texas Bluebonnet Tartan, was designed by June Prescott McRoberts in 1986 and adopted by the state of Texas in 1989. You can read more details about the Texas Bluebonnet Tartan here.

My Grandparents

My grandfather, born in Helmsley, England, came to this country as a young man of 28 in 1884. He lived to be 78, but died before I was born. I've not traced our family history, but I suspect that there is Scottish ancestry in some branch of our family tree. Regardless, I've long been mad about tartan. It's not just for Christmas, you know! So join me as I honor all Americans of Scottish descent and celebrate Tartan Day.

I have a fresh pot of a special blend
of Scottish tea steeping.

And I've pulled out one of my favorite little treasures from MacKenzie-Childs in the Maclachlan pattern and filled it with Scottish shortbread from Campbells.

The lid of this sweet box features a thistle, which like tartan, is one of the most recognizable symbols of Scotland. The thistle can be found in the Royal Arms of Scotland.

Campbells is internationally famous and according to the Campbells' website, is Scotland's oldest bakery. You can visit their site here.

We have a selection of shortbread
from Campbells' Gold Kilt tin.

I've gathered some of my
tartan pieces to celebrate the day.

Tartan paper maché
balls gathered in a footed dish.

An empty Walkers' tartan tin filled with spring flowers. Walkers is another company known for Scottish Shortbread. You can find them here.

This vertical tin is perfect as a vase, and it

features a charming little Scottish lass with her dog.

Entitled "Which Hand Will You Take?",

this tin was filled with chocolate chip shortbread.

Fortunately, I don't need reading glasses, but I couldn't resist this pair of vintage specks in their own tartanware case.

The case is in the McDuff pattern. TARTANWARE by Princess Ira Von Furstenberg is a great little book full of photographs of tartan covered objects that were produced as souvenirs from Scotland in the early to mid 19th century. Many of the objects are from the Princess' personal collection. Published in 1996, this book is now difficult to find.

You might want to settle in with a cup of tea, a few shortbread cookies, and enjoy my copy.

You can see the Gold Kilt
tin here on the tray.

The kilt is the distinctive traditional dress of the highland Scottish male. As this attire does not have the convenience of pockets, a sporran, (leather pouch) is worn to carry valuables.