Religious Tartans

The tartans that have been created for differentAbbot Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, designed a
religious groups allow individuals to celebrate theirsimple, dignified red check tartan to line the robes of
scottishness and religion at the same time.his monks and nuns He says "we are fortunate to be
Jews and Scots have both gained from theirestablished as part of the Scottish community and
encounters of the past two centuries. There remainswanted a tartan for our Sangha to show how much
a tolerance and respect based on shared traditions. Inappreciation we have for the people, culture and
2008 a Scottish rabbi created the world's first officialtradition of Scotland".
Jewish tartan. Mendel Jacobs, worked with theThe Clergy tartan has been described as the only
Scottish Tartans Authority and religious scholars tooccupational tartan. Established as a tartan for clerics
design a tartan that would reflect Scotland's Jewishsince 1850, the Clergy tartan does not represent any
history.particular sect or denomination. The Clergy tartan can
He said: "The Jewish people have been an integralbe worn by ministers from the Church of Scotland,
part of Scottish culture for more than 300 years,Scottish Episcopal Church Church of England as well
with the first Jew recorded in Edinburgh in 1691.as clergy from other faiths.
Talking about the colours in the tartan, he addedThe arrival of Sikhism in Scotland is relatively recent,
"The blue and white represent the colours of thewhile the first Sikhs settled in Scotland in the early
Scottish and Israeli flags, with the central gold line1920's. Today Sikhs represent around 0.13% of the
representing the gold from the Biblical Tabernacle, thepopulation 6,572.
Ark of the Covenant and the many ceremonialThe Singh tartan was the first officially registered
vessels." in addition "The silver is from theTartan of the Scottish Asian community - The
decorations that adorn the Scroll of Law and the redTartan was designed for Lord Iqbal Singh, a Scottish
represents the traditional red Kiddush wine".Laird. The plaid, incorporates the Singh family colour
Locharron, one of Scotland's most prestigious millsof blue, yellow for peace, green to represent the
has produced the tartan that has proved popularlanded gentry and red as a tribute to the creators
with Jews in Israel and America as well as Scotland.wife.
At the time of the last census Scotland had aScottish Tartans Society. Keith Lumsden, a society
significant Jewish population of 6400.researcher said: Many with Indian ancestory have
Many other religions have chosen to mark their closeadopted Scottish tartan. The Gurkhas wore tartan as
bond with Scotland.did many other Indian regiments."
This buddest tartan was designed for the SamyeAlthough there isn't an Islamic tartan, the Scottish
Ling Buddest centr.Islamic Foundation are planning a tartan week in the
The tartan colours represent the five elements in theMiddle East to encourage greater ties between the
Tibetan spectrum - Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Space.Muslim world and Scotland.