Tartan Day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which asserted Scotland's independence as a sovereign state. The declaration is in the form of a letter to Pope John XXII and was part of a broader effort to position Scotland as an independent kingdom not subject to control by England.
Celebrated yearly on April 6th, the day on which the Declaration of Arbroath was signed, Tartan Day recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions by Scottish Americans. Parades and other festivities are held and in 2013 Kevin McKidd served as the Grand Marshal of the New York City Tartan Day Parade.