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The Broons Comic Day
"Pit yer simmet oan!" (Put your vest on!)
~ classic Maw Broon line, showing her motherly concern
The Broons is one of Scotland’s most beloved comic strips, first published in The Sunday Post on March 8, 1936. Created by D.C. Thomson & Co., it humorously depicts the everyday lives of a large, working-class Scottish family living in a tenement. The Broon family includes the formidable Maw Broon, the hapless but well-meaning Paw Broon, their eight lively children—including the glamorous Daphne, the brawny Hen, and the mischievous Bairn—along with their beloved pet Harry the dug. Written in rich Scots dialect, the strip has entertained generations with its heartwarming humor and sharp social observations. With its mix of nostalgia, slapstick, and family antics, The Broons has remained a cherished part of Scottish culture for nearly a century, with its annual collections eagerly awaited each year.
In this tartan design, the colours are based on the Broons ancestral origins and backstory which is as follows: The Broons' forebears Le Bruns arrived in Britain with the Norman Conquest in 1066. They overthrew their leige lord and moved to Scotland in an act known as Le Broon Coup and settled in the land of the MacGregors who called them 'Broons'. Led by the famous Red MacGregor they became expert dealers in pre-owned cattle. A by-product of the family cow business was fertiliser so a cousin, Capability Broon, became quite a famous gardener. His brother, Incapability Broon was more famous in beer gardens. This new tartan takes the brown from their famous name, the green from the wild clan country, the red and gold from the shield of the Duchy of Normandy, their distant Gallic cousins. The black line signifies their illustrated exploits that have appeared in The Sunday Post for 75 years. Keeping the blood link with their distant Gallic cousins are the red and gold from the Duchy of Normandy heraldic shield. 🤎 💛 ❤️ 💚 🤪 🤪 🤪
The Broons comic strip first appeared in the Scottish newspaper The Sunday Post on March 8, 1936. Created by R.D. Low, the then-editor of The Sunday Post, and illustrated by the legendary Dudley D. Watkins, The Broons quickly became a beloved staple of Scottish culture. The strip follows the everyday life of a working-class family living in a tenement in Glasgow (though sometimes portrayed in a more general Scottish urban setting). The characters include the formidable Maw and Paw Broon, their eight children (including the glamorous Daphne, the strong and simple-minded Joe, and the mischievous twins), and their lovable, eccentric relatives.
At its core, The Broons is a celebration of Scottish humor, resilience, and family values. The comic captures the quirks of Scottish life, from dialect and traditions to the struggles and joys of working-class existence. Through its sharp wit and heartwarming storytelling, the strip has reflected the changing landscape of Scottish society, adapting through wartime hardships, post-war prosperity, and modern shifts in culture while maintaining its distinctly Scottish identity. The annual Broons books, first published in 1939, have become cherished Christmas gifts, with generations of Scots passing them down as a family tradition.
Beyond its entertainment value, The Broons has had a profound cultural impact. It has helped preserve and popularize the Scots language, with its dialogue often written in broad Scots dialect. The strip’s themes of family unity, humor in adversity, and pride in Scottish identity resonate deeply with readers, making it an enduring part of the nation's heritage. Over the decades, The Broons has influenced Scottish comedy, television, and literature, with its characters becoming icons of nostalgia and national pride. Even in an era of digital media, the Broon family remains a treasured part of Scotland’s cultural landscape, reminding Scots at home and abroad of the warmth and humor of their roots.
Check out more Broons trivia on their fan page wiki, by clicking The Broons at home.