Kirkin' of the Tartans 10-31-2010

Each year our church (and other Presbyterian churches) celebrates the "Kirkin' of the Tartans." The service reminds American congregations of the Scottish roots of Presbyterianism, where John Knox lived and taught. ‘Twas a dark age that covered the moors and highlands of Scotland in the mid-1700s after the defeat of Bonny Prince Charlie by English troops – an age that saw the prohibition of the wearing of traditional tartans and followed the age when members of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland could be jailed for their beliefs. Today, Winter Park Presbyterian Church folks wear Scottish tartans to commemorate this tradition and it's quite colorful. We have bagpipers - most people really love the bagpipes, others want to seek out the SPCA when they think cats are being abused. We had a short two person "play" portraying John Knox and his wife by individuals well known - and quite famous - for performing it around the country. I can't remember their names, unfortunately. And, we had Haggis! It's a traditional Scottish dish that is a savory (?) pudding containing sheep's pluck (heart, liver and lungs); minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock and traditionally encased in the animal's stomach and simmered for approximately three hours. It is considered the national dish of Scotland as a result of Robert Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis" of 1787. Needless-to-say, not everyone tried it :>). It definitely tastes "different," which is an understatement . . . A good time was had by all and we look forward to this event each year.