Tartans reflect Scottish history and pride

My last name is Stewart, and, yes, I have a Scottish connection, both by marriage and by heredity.

I had the good fortune at the young age of 23 to marry a Scot that I had met during my master’s year at the University of Edinburgh, and we have remained fast friends for 45 years.

You see a photo here of Adrian wearing his grandfather’s kilt, a Regimental Highlander’s garment from World War I.

Thus, when I heard of the recent discovery of a 16th-century kilt, I was, as they say in Britain, “gob smacked” and had to write to all of us in Santa Barbara who have Scottish heritage. Our son, Laughlin Cameron Guthrie Stewart, wears one of the authorized versions of the Stewart tartan, so I was thrilled to see that this week the Scottish Tartan Authority was assisting the Victoria and Albert Museum in Dundee, Scotland, with a recent discovery, a fragment of an ancient tartan textile.

They found that the mustardcolored fragment of wool with a recognizable plaid pattern dates to 1500-1600. Evidence of the tartan as a symbol of Scottish pride exists in literature well before this discovery. However, nothing material in terms of an actual tartan had been discovered until now.

I am referring to the great

Wildflowers

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Along the trail, hikers will see a rich variety of flowering plants, some of which are common and others that are very narrow endemics. There is even a small waterfall, courtesy of the heavy precipitation this past winter. Geology enthusiasts will get to see a fine exposure of blueschist, a special rock within the Franciscan Formation.

The entire loop is 4.5 miles, with

Calendar

Continued from Page B1 nonprofit One Tree Planted to plant one tree in California for every ticket sold for this play.

7 p.m. Artemis, an international jazz ensemble made up of six women, will perform at UCSB Campbell Hall. The ensemble consists of pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes, trumpeter Ingrid Jenson, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, alto saxophonist and flutist Alexa Tarantino, bassist Norike Ueda and drummer Allison Miller. Artemis’ music ranges from modern compositions to jazz classics by Thelonious Monk, Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter. Audience members may arrive early at 4 p.m. for a free Q&A and behind-the-scenes open sound check. Register at thematiclearning.org/2022-2023.Elubia’s Kitchen will

Udall

Continued from Page B1 happened in the Santa Barbara Channel, at that time ranked as the largest in U.S. waters. The consequences were devastating for the Santa Barbara community, its environment, wildlife and economy. But what transpired out of that tragedy lives on in a remarkable legacy. Citizen activists, students and volunteers from all walks of life rallied, pitching in to clean up, then formed an amazing array of discovery of the Glen Affric Tartan 1500-1600 which, according to Peter MacDonald, head of research of the Scottish Tartan Authority, is a magnificent piece of Scottish history. The fragment, discovered in a peat bog by a utility worker in 1995, was recently tested for age and dye quality. It was found that during the 14 weeks of testing and the removal of peak bog stains with acid and alkali baths that indeed the fragment at 55 x 43 cm was from the 16th century. What is amazing is that there is actually a Scottish Tartan Authority Board, because before the 19th century, tartan was, as some scholars say, not all that notable, as it was only a working garment, and not clan based. But when writers such as Robbie Burns and Sir Walter Scott made Scottish heritage so important in the 19th century that even Queen Victoria was wearing tartan at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with her trusted Scottish servant, well, then Scottish clan history, including the tartans, began to be important.

Northwest Scotland, where the fragment was found, was a traditional pathway crossing between two major oceans, transversed by a river. This is at Glen Affric, where the 16th-century tartan was found in a dense peat bog. Because there was little oxygen in the bog to break down the fragment, it was preserved. The selvedge indicates that the piece an elevation gain of more than 700 feet. There are four creek crossings over shallow water, and they entail walking across short, wide planks over the stream. Since parts of the trail are steep and/or rutted in some sections, hikers are strongly advised to bring trekking poles, sturdy boots and patience. A slightly shortened version of

FYI

COURTESY PHOTO was a fragment of a cloak.

Adrian Stewart wears his grandfather’s kilt, a Regimental Highlander’s garment from World War I.

Experts say that this 16thcentury cloak was worn by an average working man and did not indicate a clan. However, even if not clan-specific, kings and rulers indicated their allegiance to Scotland by wearing certain tartans as far back as the 1400s when in 1471 King James III wore a tartan sash. Then in 1538, King James V wore a tartan piece, and in 1662, King James V wore a tartan rosette.

In 1594, writings pertaining to the wars of an Irish Gaelic king mentioned that the leader recruited fierce warriors from the Hebrides (Northwest Scottish Coast Islands) who wore tartan and who were recognized as Scots by the Irish. If you are of Scottish heritage, you might be interested in a book by the hike will be available for anyone who feels that they can’t complete the entire loop, but even the shorter version of the trip will involve the stream crossings and some steep sections of trail. This is not a trip for novice hikers. If you have questions, text Mr. Evarts at 805-350-4280.

“Wildflowers of the Blueschist Trail,” a pop-up field trip at the UC Sedgwick Reserve, will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, visit www. syvnature.org.

Hikers are advised to bring the archaeologist Elizabeth Barber, who researched gravesites for years for her book “The Mummies of Urumchi.” She found warriors wearing tartan all over the known ancient world. ample water and a large snack or light lunch for the planned stop at a viewpoint on the trail. Trekking poles and good shoes (water-resistant are suggested) are strongly advised. If you own a highclearance AWD or 4WD vehicle, use those to get to the trailhead, where parking is limited. Directions to the meet-up location at the reserve and the entrance gate code will be emailed to registrants. email: mmcmahon@newspress. com be serving dinner before the show from 5 to 7 P.M., outside of the event. Tickets range from $30 to $45 for the general public and are $15 for UCSB students who show a current student ID. To purchase, go to www. artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Urumchi is a location in China where tartan-clad warriors who were not of Asian heritage were discovered in an ancient grave.

The tradition of the weaving of yarn from wool into distinctive patterns in certain locations, originated by certain clans, is a symbol of Scottish pride. This month at the Victoria and Albert Museum (at their adjunct location in Dundee, Scotland) a show will be mounted about the history of the tartans, including this ancient 15thcentury fragment.

The website Luxuo states that in the light of the great discoveries around Scots Tartans, a woolen mill, Holland and Sherry, in the city of Peebles, is creating a fine tartan of 100% pure Mongolian cashmere for $6000 a kilt. Says the mill’s director: “we are creating a champagne fabric rather than a beer fabric.” And that is what the tartan is about. It is meant to be worn while drinking.

Dr. Elizabeth Stewart’s “Ask the Gold Digger” column appears Saturdays in the News-Press. Written after her father’s COVID-19 diagnosis, Dr. Stewart’s book “My Darlin’ Quarantine: Intimate Connections Created in Chaos” is a humorous collection of five “what-if” short stories that end in personal triumphs over presentday constrictions. It’s available at Chaucer’s in Santa Barbara.

APRIL 24 organizations still active today to help protect against future disasters and formulate environmental policy, including the Community Environmental Council, Get Out Oil, the Environmental Defense Center and the first Environmental Studies Program at UCSB. An impromptu Earth Day at the

7:30 p.m. The Lompoc Pops Orchestra will perform everything from Broadway hits to a “Star Trek” medley at the First United Methodist Church, 925 North F St., Lompoc. Tickets are $25 for adults, $5 for all full time students, and free for children 12 and under. To make reservations, call 805-733-1796.

7:30 p.m. Acclaimed violinist Augustin Hadelich will perform at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. Mr. Hadelich will play music by Bach, ColeridgeTaylor Perkinson and Eugene Ysaye. Tickets for the Community Arts Music Association of Santa Barbara concert cost $45 and $55. To purchase, go to lobero.org.

Fyi

APRIL 25

7:30 p.m. The American Theatre Guild will present “Anastasia” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The new Broadway musical follows a brave young woman on a journey to discover the mystery of the past. This production transports the audiences from the twilight of the Russian empire to Paris in the 1920s. Tickets cost $54 to $129.

To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

APRIL 26 foot of the Santa Barbara pier later inspired the nation’s first Earth Day.

7:30 p.m. The American Theatre Guild will present “Anastasia” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The new Broadway musical follows a brave young woman on a journey to discover the mystery of the past.

This production transports the audiences from the twilight of the Russian empire to Paris in the 1920s. Tickets cost $54 to $129. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

“Stewart Udall and The Politics of Beauty” takes place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Marjorie Luke Theatre, 721 E. Cota St.. Santa Barbara. Admission is free. For more information, call 805-962-2571, visit www.sbpermaculture.org or email margie@sbpermaculture.org.

Mr. Udall later returned to Santa Barbara to acknowledge what he felt was his mistake and formally apologize.

Mr. De Graaf, the filmmaker behind “Stewart Udall and The Politics of Beauty,” has been producing and directing

APRIL 27

7:30 p.m. Pico Iyer will talk with movie star Isabella Rossellini at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $35 for general admission and $10 for UCSB students. To purchase, call UCSB Arts & Lectures at 805-893-3535 or go to artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

APRIL 30

3:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art presents a unique conversation between renowned poet and art critic John Yau and artist Joan Tanner. The event will take place at 3:30 p.m. April 30 at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Tickets are free for SBMA members and students and cost $5, otherwise. They are available at tickets.sbma.net.

Mason

— Dave

PBS documentaries for more than 40 years, including 31 years at KCTS, the Seattle PBS affiliate. Fifteen of his programs have been broadcast nationally in primetime on PBS, including his 1997 hit special “Affluenza.” He has directed and written many biographies and history programs, including the PBS national Earth Day 1990 special, “For Earth’s Sake: The Life and Times of David Brower,” which includes an interview with Stewart Udall.

email: mmcmahon@newspress.com