St Andrew’s Day 2024: Why is it celebrated and do Scots get a day off?

St Andrew’s Day, which is connected November 30 each year, is an juncture for Scots to observe their patron saint St Andrew.

The Scottish solemnisation is besides known arsenic the Feast of Saint Andrew. Much similar St George’s Day successful England, St Patrick’s Day successful Ireland, and St David’s Day successful Wales, the yearly lawsuit involves families and friends celebrating their nation’s affluent culture.

The time has been celebrated for much than a 1000 years dating backmost arsenic aboriginal arsenic 1000 AD. However, it wasn’t until the 18th period that the yearly solemnisation became commonplace.

St Andrew became the authoritative patron saint aft Scotland declared its independency successful 1320. The past municipality of St Andrews was named and claimed arsenic his last resting place. His communicative went connected to signifier galore antithetic aspects of Scottish culture, including the bluish and achromatic emblem of Scotland, besides known arsenic the St Andrew's Cross.

Andrew was Jesus Christ’s archetypal disciple and an apostle, according to the New Testament.

He is the member of Simon Peter and a lad of Jonah and preached the teachings of Jesus astir the globe.

St Andrew’s blessings were felt acold and wide beyond Scotland. As such, helium is besides a patron saint successful galore different countries including Russia, Spain, Romania, Barbados and Ukraine.

St Andrew was crucified connected an X-shaped transverse successful Greece connected 30 November 60 AD, which is present represented by the achromatic transverse of the Scottish flag.

The Scottish Parliament declared the time a slope vacation successful 2006. However, banks are not required to adjacent unless they privation to.

If St Andrew’s Day falls connected a weekend, the slope vacation is past moved to the pursuing Monday. It volition autumn connected a Saturday this year, which means it volition beryllium a slope vacation connected Monday, December 2.

The time involves Scots successful Scotland and elsewhere celebrating each aspects of Scottish civilization and heritage.

Traditional Scottish nutrient specified arsenic haggis, euphony and dancing are portion of the festivities and galore observe until the aboriginal greeting hours.

A London Kilt Run is taking spot connected the Saturday, November 30 from 1pm. The tally volition statesman from the Robert Burns Statue connected London Embankment and screen 10km of cardinal London.

There are besides celebrations connected the Friday, November 29 astatine St Thomas' Church Balham arsenic set Fiddle Paradiddle articulation successful connected an lawsuit to celebrate.

The set said they would beryllium celebrating “the patron saint of Scotland the lone mode we cognize however - dancing wildly, drinking whisky, and eating tasty tasty fare”.

They added: “Once again we've brought successful our favourites caterers, Julia's Kitchen, to supply a repast of Stovies followed by location made shortbread!

“With a afloat stocked bar, monolithic creation floor, and each the fairy lights successful South West London - determination is nary amended spot to observe the location of television, Billy Connolly and heavy fried pizza. Try it, you won't regret it. I mean you will, but anyway.

“Grab your mates and travel and articulation america for a monolithic ceilidh for each things Scottish!”