Saint Andrew's Day, known as Latha Naomh Anndra in Scots Gaelic, celebrates the feast day of Saint Andrew. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament declared it to be a bank holiday, although employers do not have to give staff a day's holiday.
The flag-flying regulations controlled by the Scottish Government dictate that the Flag of Scotland, called the Saltire or the Cross of Saint Andrew, which is an X-shaped white cross on a blue background, is flown on all Government buildings with a flag pole on Saint Andrew's day.
Saint Andrew: History
Saint Andrew is believed to have been a fisherman in Galilee, now part of Israel, along with his brother Simon Peter, later known as Saint Peter. Andrew and Peter became apostles of Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian religion. Saint Peter is regarded as the first Pope by the Roman Catholic Church.
Saint Andrew is believed to have responsible for spreading the Christian religion through Asia Minor and Greece. Tradition suggests that Saint Andrew was killed by the Romans in Patras in Southern Greece. He was crucified by being pinned to a diagonal shaped cross, which is said to be the basis for the shape of the Flag of Scotland.
Saint Andrew's Day: Traditions
Many men who attend a Saint Andrew's Day party dress in traditional dress. That is, a kilt, a sporran, a Prince Charlie jacket, a bow tie, and a belt.
Saint Andrew's Day parties usually include a traditional Scottish dance, known as a Ceilidh. Ceilidhs usually involve the playing of traditional Gaelic folk music, often played on bagpipes, and dancing.
On Saint Andrew's Day many Scottish families cook traditional Scottish food, and often share it with their extended families and friends. Recipes include soups like Scotch Broth and Scottish Cullen Skink, main courses like Haggis, Scottish Herring in Oatmeal, Beef in Whisky Sauce, Finnan Haddie, Stovies, and Highlan Sausage Plait, and desserts like Scottish Clootie Dumpling, Dundee Cake, Angus Toffee, Scottish Tablet, and Macarron Balls.
Around midnight on November 29, the day before St Andrew's Day, it was traditional for girls to pray to Saint Andrew for a husband. They would make a wish and look for a sign that they had been heard.
Saint Andrew's Day: Celebration in Scotland
On November 30th Ceilidhs are held in towns and villages across Scotland, from Gretna Green in the south, to Lerwick in the north.
The town that bears the saint's name, St Andrew's, holds a week long festival of arts and festivals. It was in St Andrew's that Prince William met his future wife Kate Middleton, when they both attended the University of St Andrew's.
Since November 30th 1996, when the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland and housed in Edinburgh Castle, it has been decreed that the Castle is open with free entry on every St Andrew's Day to allow the people of Scotland to view the fabled Stone. Many of Scotland's most stunning heritage sites are also open for free to the public on the weekend before Saint Andrew's Day, including Edinburgh Castle, Melrose Abbey and the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae.
Saint Andrew's Day: Celebration around the World
There are Saint Andrew's Societies in almost every corner of the globe. They were set up to support Scottish emigrates and their descendants in their new colonies, which included celebrating Saint Andrew's Day. The first was formed in Charleston, South Carolina on 30 November 1729. Twenty years later, the Saint Andrew's Society of Philadelphia. In 1756 the Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York was founded as a charitable organisation. The North British Society in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada was founded in 1768. The Saint Andrew's Society of Montreal was established in 1835.
These days, these Saint Andrew's Societies act as the focal point for celebrations of Saint Andrew's Day around the globe.
Saint Andrew's Day: Related Events
Saint Andrew's Day is only one of several celebrations with a disticntly Scottish feel. Others include Celebrating the Life and Poetry of Rabbie Burns on Burns Night and Hogmanay – The Scottish New Year in Scotland and Edinburgh.
Patron Saints of other UK Countries
Saint George is the patron saint of England, Saint David is the patron saint of Wales, and Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
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For further infomation about Saint Andrew's Day, see St Andrew's Day.
Mark Tibbits - A professional writer and educator who writes about Astrology, South Asia/China, the UK, the British Royal Family, and Religion.
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