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Tartans Of The World Cup Teams

In South Africa the world's top team are competing for a place in the history books

If you're suprised to learn that Japan and South Africa have their own tartn, read on to discover some suprising countries with tartans and countries links with Scotland.

An unofficial world cup tartan has been designed to mark the occasion, while it's only a digital swatch rather than a woven cloth most of the countries competing can look to their own country tartans. The host nation, South Africa, has it's own tartan, part of the 'tartans for Africa' series, created to strengthen the bonds of friendship between Scotland and Africa. The tartan used the colours of the South African and Scottish flags.

I will now take a look at the tartans for the other World Cup teams and their ties to Scotland.

The Japanese tartan draws inspiration from the country's fascination with cherry blossom and includes pink, white, green and brown colours. The design is called Sakura, the Japanese for cherry blossom.

There are currently around 100,000 Argentineans' of Scottish descent in Argentina. The Argentina District tartan, designed by a Scottish-Argentine, is based on the Robertson tartan in honour of two Scotsmen, John and William Robertson, who started the first settlement of Scottish immigrants in Argentina in 1825. The colours used in the plaid are taken from the Argentine and Scottish flags.

While Algeria doesn't have it's own tartan, the Algerian footballer and Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra believes that the whole of Scotland will be cheering him and his Algeria teammates on. Algeria play England in their second group stage match in Cape Town."Everywhere I go in Glasgow people stop me and tell me to beat England," he said.

The American National Tartan takes its inspiration from the American flag, incorporating the red, white and blue of the Star Spangled Banner. There are also US State and District tartans such as those for Georgia, New York and Idaho.

A popular choice of tartan for South Americans is the "Cochrane" tartan which honours the naval hero who founded the navies of several nations, this could be a winner for players from Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

Spaniards with Celtic roots can choose the "Galicia" tartan. This tartan has been designed for the northern provinces of Spain alternatively it is believed that the "Jacobite" tartan had its origins in Barcelona and would be a good choice for Catalans. There is also a Espana Spanish Modern tartan.

The Duke of Wellington began his Peninsular campaign from Portugal so the "Wellington" tartan is a good choice.

The "Canadian Centennial Tartan" serves as a "national" tartan for all Canadians.

French footie fans could go for the Jacobite tartan. The French supported the Stuart cause for decades. French regulars fought to the last at Culloden Moor after the clans had broken and the "Culloden" tartan would honour those brave soldiers.

For the Germans - Prince Albert, lover of the Highlands and himself a tartan designer, was a German. The "Coburg" tartan was designed to commemorate the Prince Consort.

The "Dutch" tartan simultaneously represents the House of Orange and the MacKay family who have been prominent citizens of both Scotland and the Netherlands for many generations

The New Zealand tartan made up of black grey and white, Black represents the highest achievement of all New Zealanders in sport. Grey represents the multi cultural society and the unification of all our people and white represents the snow-capped Southern Alps.

Three million Australians are either Scottish or of Scottish descent. International Tartan Day in Australia and New Zealand is celebrated on a local basis in most states on July 1, the anniversary of the Repeal Proclamation of 1782 annulling the Act of Proscription

Argentina has around 100,000 people of Scottish descent, the largest such community outside the English-speaking world. The Tartan Day parade of Scottish porteñinaugurated in 2006.

Around 6 million Americans have Scottish ancestory. April 6 as National Tartan Day "to recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish Americans to the United States" .

The historical association between Denmark and Scotland extends over 900 years to the age of the Vikings. The Norse influence can be see in fesitvals and in the place names in the North and East of Scotland, as well as the original language used in Scotland - Gaelic.

Although tartan is associated with Scotland it has been known in Denmark for almost 400 years, for some 40,000 Scots mercenaries, mostly from the Highlands, fought in the Kalmar Wars between Sweden and Denmark. Many of these Scottish soldiers eventually settled in Denmark and became integrated into the local community.

The Danish tartan was a gift to the people of Denmark. The tartan includes the colours in the country flags of Denmark and Scotland.

Michael, a third-generation Scottish/Italian, has had his design for an Italian tartan approved by the Scottish Tartans Authority . The design features the green, white and red of the Italian flag against the backdrop of the "azzuro" blue worn by the country's football team.

About the Author

Anna Murray is Head of Marketing at The Scotland Kilt Company - a family run business based in Edinburgh. For more information about tartans including measuring yourself for a kilt and choosing your tartan visit

http://www.thescotlandkiltcompany.co.uk/

email info@thescotlandkiltcompany.co.uk
Or call 0131 225 3555

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