Celebrating St Andrew’s Day
St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, was younger brother to St Peter and his death on a cross is named in folklore as the inspiration behind the Saltire flag. Although St Andrew has been recognised as patron saint since the 9th century, St Andrew’s Day on November 30th has only been recognised as a Scottish bank holiday since 2007. If you would like to join in with this year’s festivities, here’s how.
Anyone who is at all familiar with Glasgow knows that all the major celebrations take place on George Square. A packed timetable of celebration and entertainment will kick off with a ceilidh from 6pm on Friday 30th November and continue until 10pm on Sunday 2nd December. If Scottish food, hot toddies and traditional music sound like a great way to spend a weekend, George Square is the place to be! Keep an eye out for Robert the Bruce, Jacobites and the lesser famed Kilted Caricaturist. More event details will be announced shortly on the Glasgow loves St Andrew’s Day website and the organisers’ Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Edinburgh St Andrew’s Day Events
There will be plenty happening in the capital city over the weekend of St Andrew’s Day. Here are just a few of the highlights.
Thursday 29th November
Thursday 29th November is when The Mound and St Andrew Square will officially being their festive season. The Edinburgh Wheel will open at 10am, alongside the markets and the ice rink. Watch the Christmas Parade, see Santa himself then enjoy the switching on of the Christmas lights at 5pm.
Friday 30th November
- St Andrew’s Day meeting at Musselburgh Races
- Free lantern making on the Castle esplanade from 11am to 4pm
- Carnival at the Castle. Dance, music, fireworks and a light show at Edinburgh Castle from 7pm-8pm
- Special offers at selected attractions: One child free with each paying adult at the Edinburgh Dungeons, Dynamic Earth and Camera Obscura.
- Buy one get one free entry to the Royal Botanical Gardens, John Knox House and Surgeon’s Hall Museum
- All special offers apply until Sunday 2nd December.
- Historic Scotland are offering free entry to selected attractions on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd December. Free tickets are limited and can be obtained by registering on the Historic Scotland Ticket Giveaway website.
Ceilidh Club at Camden Centre, London
The English Folk Dance and Song Society will be bringing a taste of Scotland to London on St Andrew’s Day with this Ceilidh Club event. Don’t be shy if you’ve never ceilidh danced before, the caller will guide all guests through the steps, making the event suitable for absolute beginners and old hands alike. Tickets are priced at £14.50 and can be booked online or by calling Ticketweb on 0844 4771 000. If the date doesn’t suit but you’d still like to try your hand at a bit of ceilidh, the event will be running on selected dates until January at Cecil Sharp House.
London Scottish St Andrew’s Day Dinner and Dance
London Scottish Rugby Football club will be holding their annual St Andrew’s Day Dinner and Dance in the Millennium Tara Copthorne Hotel in Kensington. The evening’s entertainment will include a three course meal with wine, live music including a ceilidh, celebrity sports guest speakers and auction prizes. Guests can also opt to have a London Scottish player hosting their table. Tickets are priced at £95 per person or £900 for a table of ten. Tickets can be booked by emailing lc@londonscottish.com or calling 020 8940 7156
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