St. Andrew's Day

Savana Kelly & Jayden Hallett

1/2/23

The 30th of November is St. Andrew’s Day, a Scottish holiday that many people don't know about as it is not often celebrated in America. St. Andrew's day is the beginning winter holiday of Scotland. It is the first holiday celebrated in the winter months and as said by Mr. Thomson, "It's like Scotland's St Patrick's day.” According to scotland.org, St. Andrew's Day has been celebrated since before 1000 AD, over 1000 years!

St. Andrew’s Day is a celebration of Scottish culture, food, music, dancing, and so much more. Many people in Scottish cities like Edinburgh take to the streets to celebrate, with some events lasting the whole week and long into the nights, often including traditional gatherings called open-air ceilidhs and lots of music. 

Unlike some things the Scots celebrate, St Andrew's Day has a   more relaxed attire, with people often wearing kilts. Some choose to wear more traditional kilts, while others choose to wear an argyll outfit or something like a tweed kilt outfit. 

The holiday started with Scottish immigrants coming to America who wanted to remember their roots in Scotland. However, it didn’t become an official holiday until 1320 in Scotland, although it has been celebrated for much longer.

Although it is not commonly celebrated in America, many people with Scottish roots still celebrate every year, like Mr. Thompson. If you have Scottish heritage in your family, or just want another holiday to celebrate, consider celebrating St. Andrew’s Day with the Scotts!