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NYC Tartan Day 04-05-2004 07:19 PM
NYC Tartan Day, April 3, 2004
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The parade was absolutely gorgeous. At least 20 marching pipe + drum bands. Exquisite tartans, splendid kilts.
Sporrans beyond my imagination. Sgian Dubhs tucked into socks, sparkling. Plaid socks aplenty! A lot of RED.
A scottie dog wearing a tam and a kilt! I swear it! (LOTS of scotties and westies.)
Throughout the event I observed 2 men wearing non-kilted MUGs: Jad, my date, in a black pleated skirt, and another man crossing 6th Avenue in a full-length A-line plaid skirt. The crowd was too dense for me to stampede him for a greeting.
We chose a spot along the route and our next-door-neighbor turned out to be a charming Scottish woman from Campbeltown. She was happy to answer every question we had, (including what her father taught her about what's underneath mens' kilts) with gusto. She'd been to a ceilidh the night before, and was totally revved.
Some of the bands made celestial sounds on their bagpipes. Others sounded a little…… throatier…. less "mellowed with age." There were lots of young kids, already playing the pipes, and some just skipping along -- in their kilts. And many proud older men in full dress with the best posture and brightest complexions I've ever seen. Quite a few beards. Many in full dress.
I was in heaven. At least 500 kilted men. Smashing.
Jad spotted a piper who looked a lot like Robert Pel…he yelled out to me: Look! But I wasn't looking in that direction… then I noticed on a drum that the band passing was the Breezy Point Pipe and Drum Corps, the same bunch I'd run into on St. Patrick's Day. And this was the exactly same guy who'd tried to lure me onto the bus. So, since Jad independently singled this guy out as Kanuckca, we decided he must be Robert's twin, for sure.
The tartans! Unbelievable colors. One group came marching up the street wrapped in the brightest boldest yellow….. Just incredible. Almost blinding.
An upbeat John Gunn, in a Viking helmet, gets into the Scottish spirit and prances to the music at the Tartan Day Parade along Sixth Ave. With his Glasgow band, the Gutty Slippers, Gunn and his bagpipe led the parade, a celebration of Scottish music and culture.
For more photos of the NYC Tartan Day go to Saeculis Photographic The photos are similiar to this one:
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