Friday, April 5, 2013

Hoot man! Saturday is Tartan Day

You'll remember that we told you that December 5 was Repeal Day, commemorating the anniversary of the 1933 ratification of the 21st Amendment and the official end of Prohibition. But the sale of beer was legalized earlier in that same year: It became legal to sell 3.2% beer on April 7, 1933 -- and for that reason April 6 is sometimes referred to as New Beer's Eve.

That seems appropriate for a Saturday celebration.

And, while April 5 is National Caramel Day, April 6 will be National Caramel Popcorn Day.

Usual Suspect Days of the Year touts Saturday as Pillow Fight Day.

Some of the Usual Suspects suggest that April 6 is also Army Day, but the U.S. Department of Defense says that Army Day was last observed nationally on April 6, 1949.

The consensus choice for Saturday, however, is Tartan Day, a celebration of all things Scottish. On April 6, 1320, 51 Scottish nobles sent a letter to Pope John XXII asserting Scotland's right to act as a sovereign and independent nation. This was the Declaration of Arborath. (The Pope had sided with the King of England, supporting his claim over the Scottish realm.)

So toss a caber Saturday in celebration of Scotland.

We may toss back a few scotches instead.




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