St Andrews Cathedral
WHAT IS ST ANDREW'S DAY?
St Andrew's Day is the feast day of Andrew the Apostle and is celebrated every year in Scotland on the 30 November. In 1320, St Andrew officially became the patron saint of Scotland when the country's independence was declared with the signing of The Declaration of Arbroath.
IS ST ANDREW'S DAY A PUBLIC HOLIDAY?
Yes. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament declared St Andrew's Day a bank holiday. Although it is not law, most Scottish employers are left to decide whether to give their staff a day off and close for the day. If the 30 November falls on the weekend, staff are given the Friday or Monday off work.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON ST ANDREW'S DAY TRADITIONS?
St Andrew's Day celebrates the very best of Scottish culture with lots of delicious food and drink, music and ceilidh dancing, with parties going into the wee hours of the night.
A Saltire flag at TRNSMT Festival
WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL FLAG ?
Athelstaneford in East Lothian is the birthplace of Scotland's national flag. The St Andrew's Cross or Saltire is believed to be the oldest flag in Europe.
WHAT ARE COMMON ST ANDREW'S DAY SONGS?
Here are just a few suggestions to kick off your St Andrew's day sing-a-long:
- Auld Lang Syne, written by Robert Burns
- Caledonia, the epic anthem by Dougie Maclean
- Liberty, sung by The Corries
- Loch Lomond, performed by Runrig
- Scots Wha Hae, written by Robert Burns, sung by Dick Gaughan
- The Wild Geese/Norland Wind sung by Jim Reid
Man addressing the haggis at a Burns Supper.
WHAT FOOD SHOULD YOU EAT ON ST ANDREW'S DAY?
Scotland’s food and drink plays a big part on St Andrew’s Day.
- Starter - the traditional soup dish, Cullen Skink, is often served and is made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions.
- Main - many people celebrate Scotland’s patron saint with haggis, neeps (turnip) and tatties (mashed potato). Whether you decide to cook up a storm at home and buy from your local butchers or choose to dine out, you’ll find a wide variety of dishes across Scotland’s pubs and restaurants.
- Dessert - is a dish best served hot especially on a cold winter night, so round off your feast with clootie dumpling and custard - a traditional Scottish dessert made of dried fruit, spices, oatmeal or breadcrumbs, flour and beef suet. The word "clootie" derives from the Old Scots word "cloth", where the dumpling was traditionally boiled.
