St. Andrews Day on November 30th is an official national holiday in Scotland.
Saint Andrew was a disciple of Jesus and the brother to the apostle Peter.
Saint Andrew is considered the patron saint of Cyprus, Scotland, Greece, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, San Andres Island (Colombia), Saint Andrew (Barbados) and Tenerife.
In Scotland, the annual celebration of a national festival to St. Andrew is believed to have begin during the reign of Malcolm III.
Today, most Scots do not celebrate the festival as they did in olden times and many do not know the importance of this holiday. However, in 2006, the Scottish Parliament passed a bill designating this day as an official bank holiday.
The day is viewed as an official flag day in Scotland during which the Scottish flag {St. Andrew’s flag} is flown over all its buildings.
The University of St. Andrews traditionally gives the students this day off, although it is not a rule.
This day is marked in Scottish culture as a traditional day to celebrate their heritage and culture with traditional Scottish food and music.
The town of St. Andrews and some of the other Scottish cities also has a week long celebration.
The day is also considered a start of the Scottish winter festivals and seasons, which also encompass Hogmanay {New Year’s} and Burns Night {Jan. 25th}.