Tartan Day will celebrate all things Scottish at Bethel Presbyterian Church
When Pam Maniet greets visitors at Bethel Presbyterian Church on April 6, she will be emotional.
It will be the first Tartan Day, a day to celebrate Scottish heritage, without her father, Angus MacDonald. He died Dec. 27.
“I know I will have a knot in my stomach at the beginning of the day when I welcome everyone,” said Maniet, whose father loved his Scottish heritage. “But I know he will be watching over me. He was a big fan of Tartan Day. My dad was the first true Scottish lad in my life.”
Tartan Day is April 6 and recognizes Scotland’s declaration of independence. It is set aside as a day to reflect and celebrate Scottish heritage and a day that’s celebrated throughout the country.
On April 6, 1320 the Declaration of Arbroath was signed. The declaration was drawn up at Arbroath Abbey in Scotland and addressed to Pope John XXII. It was intended to confirm that Scotland was an independent state that had the right to defend itself, according to historyscotland.com.
MacDonald taught Maniet about traditional foods such as meat pie and shepherd’s pie. She learned to bake scones and empire biscuits, which are two shortbread-type biscuits sandwiched together and topped with icing and a candied cherry.
As chairperson of Tartan Day she said preparing those sweet and savory desserts from family recipes, including her grandmother’s shortbread, is a way to honor the tradition of Tartan Day.
There will be workshops about playing the bagpipes and drums, and also Celtic symbol drawing and the origins of Scottish names and meanings. Attendees can learn about how to tour Scotland, research their genealogy and make a kilt.
People dressed in kilts will be performing highland dance, and bagpipers, dancers and other musicians will play all forms of Scottish music.
One of the musicians is Richard Hughes of Mt. Lebanon, who plays the wooden flute and tin whistle. He said being able to keep this music alive means so much to him.
Hughes is part of the Road to the Isles musical group and will be performing with his daughter, Gabi, and Irish fiddler Oliver Browne. He has been playing music for more than six decades for dances in Pittsburgh. His repertoire includes songs from Scotland, Ireland, America and Australia.
He has performed at Carnegie Mellon University’s ceilidhs — events that feature folk music and singing, traditional dancing and storytelling — and for festivals and concerts throughout the Eastern U.S. and Canada.
Hughes said traditional folk songs enable the performer and the listener to leave the present and experience in concert that period of history.
“Richard is a hidden gem,” said Maniet, a North Strabane resident who is a vice president of the St. Andrew’s Society of Pittsburgh, which promotes Scottish heritage. “He truly has a gift for storytelling and performing, and loves what he does. It is magical. He is such a sweet, kind man.”
Tartan Day has been held at Bethel Presbyterian Church since 2015. The church has Revolutionary War graves and a Bible from Scotland, so it’s the perfect venue, Maniet said.
Her husband, Matthew; their children, Brittany and Ben; and her mother, Carol MacDonald, will be part of the event.
“Tartan Day is about keeping the traditions alive,” Maniet said. “We say it’s a way to spend a day in Scotland right here in Bethel Park. I am honored to be a part of it. It’s in my blood.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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