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marc gunn - the history of no pants day lyrics

on april 16, 1746, the rightful heir to throne of england, the bonnie prince charles edward stewart’s army was defeated at culloden moor by the duke of cumberland. this single battle wiped out the traditional clan system that had been a part of the highland culture for centuries. it also marked the beginning of one of the most dreadful periods of ethnic cleansing in scotland that became known as the highland clearances

the duke of cumberland gave no quarter to the highlanders at culloden. every last one was executed. then cumberland began sweeping the country and executing highlanders. those who were not executed fled to ireland and america. the bagpipes and wearing the tartan were banned as part of ‘proscription act’ (also known as the ‘black act’) of 1746

the proscription act was repealed in 1782 thanks in part to books in the people like sir walter scott who romanticized the highland tradition. many of the lowlanders began tracing their highland ancestry

then on may 6, 1805, a small group of scots in glasow rose up against the english oppression and declared may 6th as no troosers day. they cast off their pants, donned their kilts, and rewrote an old scottish drinking song to celebrate this day

like many such rebellions, it was quickly defeated. all remnants of this tragic no troosers day clearance were obliterated from history. only a single broadsheet, located in the home of angus macdonald of glasgow, remains that testifies to the horrible atrocities endured and the fact that scotland was in actuality the originator of the no pants day celebration

- marc gunn lyrics

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