| France |
Page 1 of 2  Scottish World Tartan Register No. 4061 Born out of political and military expedience against a common enemy – England – at one time the bodyguard to the Kings of France – the Garde Ecossais - was formed from ex-patriot Scottish soldiers who fought for France in the Hundred Years War. Over the centuries the relationship developed through trade, culture, art and philosophy. The half-Scots, half-French Mary, Queen of Scots, who was also Queen of France, brought French customs, culture and language with her to the Scottish Court upon her return in 1561. And for centuries Scottish merchants had the first pick of French vineyards, a custom that even survived the Union of the Crowns in 1707. France was the model for Scotland’s cultural revival and the Scottish Enlightenment was much admired in France. Voltaire famously said, “ We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation”. Combined with Scotland’s admiration of French culture and philosophy, it was described as ‘an example of how the proper and dignified relationship between people and nations is intellectual and imaginative, not political’. In a speech in Edinburgh during the darkest days of the second world war, General Charles de Gaulle, arguably the greatest Frenchman of the 20th century, said of the ‘Auld Alliance’: “ I do not think a Frenchman can come to Scotland without being sensible of a special emotion – awareness of the thousand ? cherished, of the Franco Scottish Alliance, the oldest alliance in the world, leaps to mind”. The colours of the Auld Alliance tartan combine the French Tricolour with the Scottish Saltire. The Auld Alliance tartan was commissioned by the French Institute in Scotland to celebrate their 60th anniversary, and was launched at a reception in the Assembly Rooms in George Street Edinburgh on 14th July 2006 to celebrate French National Day celebrations on 14th July 2006. Tables were elegantly decorated with swathes of the red, white and blue tartan and staff fitted out in matching ties and scarves. Guests were piped into the building and entertained throughout the reception by pipers from Brittany displaying Auld Alliance tartan banners on their pipes. French Consul General Pierre-Antoine Berniard and Institute Director Olga Poivre d’Arvor presented special guests with commemorative tartan ties and scarves. Associated LinksTartans Scotland Online Tartan Guide (external link) |
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Tartan Facts & Snippets
| Australia and New Zealand hold Tartan Days on 1 July to mark the date the law banning tartan and kilts was repealed. |