This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6512701.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Reid launches Tartan week village | Reid launches Tartan week village |
(1 day later) | |
A Scottish village exhibition has been opened in New York as part of Scotland's Tartan Week celebrations. | |
Holyrood's outgoing presiding officer George Reid launched the event in the city's Grand Central Terminal. | Holyrood's outgoing presiding officer George Reid launched the event in the city's Grand Central Terminal. |
Mr Reid travelled to the United States on Friday for two weeks of events to promote Scotland in North America. | Mr Reid travelled to the United States on Friday for two weeks of events to promote Scotland in North America. |
These will climax on 14 April, when thousands of pipers and drummers make their way down New York's 6th Avenue in the Tartan Day Parade. | These will climax on 14 April, when thousands of pipers and drummers make their way down New York's 6th Avenue in the Tartan Day Parade. |
Ancestral tourism | |
The Scottish Village is a major exhibition, which is the focal point for VisitScotland's Tartan Week activity. | |
It is based in Grand Central Terminal, occupying a 1,000 sq ft area in the Vanderbilt Hall, which is the main exit thoroughfare. | |
Last year 60,000 New Yorkers spent time in the Scottish Village. | |
The themes this year are golf, ancestral tourism, and events and festivals. | |
Aberdeen, the Highlands, Edinburgh and Glasgow all have a major profile on the village. | |
There is also an area where New Yorkers can buy Scottish produce from Scottish retailers. | |
Before heading the Tartan Day parade as Grand Marshal, Mr Reid is to engage in meetings and activities on behalf of the Scottish Parliament. | |
He is hoping to forge new links through sharing Scottish parliamentary practice with state legislatures. | He is hoping to forge new links through sharing Scottish parliamentary practice with state legislatures. |
Scots have played an influential role in the development of society in North America George Reid | Scots have played an influential role in the development of society in North America George Reid |
His programme also includes meetings with the Assemblee Nationale in Quebec, Canada. | His programme also includes meetings with the Assemblee Nationale in Quebec, Canada. |
"Our programme of activities has a strong cultural theme this year," he said. | "Our programme of activities has a strong cultural theme this year," he said. |
"Scots have played an influential role in the development of society in North America - something the Scots in Quebec exhibition currently at Holyrood illustrates all too well. | "Scots have played an influential role in the development of society in North America - something the Scots in Quebec exhibition currently at Holyrood illustrates all too well. |
"The role of Grand Marshal for the parade is one I am pleased to accept. | "The role of Grand Marshal for the parade is one I am pleased to accept. |
"To experience the streets of New York lined with people from across North America who are so proud of their Scottish heritage will no doubt once again be an emotional experience." | "To experience the streets of New York lined with people from across North America who are so proud of their Scottish heritage will no doubt once again be an emotional experience." |
Tartan Day was first formalised by the US Senate in 1998 to mark the Declaration of Arbroath on 6 April 1320, when a group of Scottish nobles swore independence from England. | Tartan Day was first formalised by the US Senate in 1998 to mark the Declaration of Arbroath on 6 April 1320, when a group of Scottish nobles swore independence from England. |
It has since been extended to cover two weeks of events celebrating Scots history and culture. | It has since been extended to cover two weeks of events celebrating Scots history and culture. |