St Andrew's Day

St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and St Andrew's day is celebrated by Scots all over the world on 30 November.

St Andrew's association with Scotland goes back a long way and Scots took it with them wherever they went in the world. The first St Andrew's Society was set up in Boston, Massachusetts in 1657.

The true story of St Andrew has long since been lost but he is thought to have been a fisherman and the younger brother of St Peter. He is said to have been crucified by the Romans and the diagonal shape of this cross is represented on the Scottish flag, the saltire.

According to legend, Saint Andrew came to King Angus of Scotland in a vision and not only promised that he would survive but also that he would be victorious in battle. The king vowed that if this came true he would adopt Saint Andrew as the patron saint of Alba. As the two armies met the next day it is said that a white cloud formation of a saltire - X-shaped cross - formed in the sky.

St Andrew's remains were brought to the east coast of Scotland by St Rule where they were kept in the cathedral until it and the remains were lost during the Scottish Reformation.

St Andrew's day is traditionally celebrated with ceilidh music, foods such as Scotch broth and fish dishes, and of course plenty of whisky!