SAINT ANDREW'S DAY IN SCOTLAND

Scotland and Scottish people around the world celebrate Saint Andrew on November 30. Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland, and even its flag is Saint Andrew’s cross. The most suprising thing is that it is thought that in life Saint Andrew had never been to Scotland or any country within the UK.

WHO WAS SAINT ANDREW?

Saint Andrew was one of the twelve Christian Apostles of Jesus Christ. He was a fisherman, like his father and his brother, Saint Simon Peter, who was also a Disciple of Jesus. Much of the information about St Andrew is recorded from legends and stories.

THE RELICS OF SAINT ANDREW

The relics of Saint Andrew were taken to the city of Patras from where they were taken to Constantinople by order of the Roman emperor Constantius II in 357.

They were then taken to St Andrews in Scotland in the 10th Century from when he became the Patron Saint of Scotland. This is thought to have been in the year 1160 and were taken by St Regulus (Rule), a Greek monk, who was shipwrecked off the Fife coast and the area he was washed ashore became know as St Andrews. He had a dream in which an angel told him to rescue some of the bones of St Andrew and take them to a place of safety far away.

Regulus had a chapel built in St Andrews to store the relics of Saint Andrew. Pilgrims would come from far away to see the bones of St Andrew because they thought they held special powers. A Cathedral was later built in the year 1160 in honour of St Andrew and the ruins can still be seen in St Andrews. It is thought that his relics were later sold to the Romans by the local priests in exchange of the Romans constructing a water reservoir for the city. The Romans took the bones to Rome in Italy.

THE SCOTTISH FLAG

The picture of the Scottish flag is traditionally known at the Saint Andrew flag. It is thought to be the oldest flag in the world. It dates back to the 12th Century. The other name of the St Andrew flag is the Saltire. It is the National flag of Scotland.

The origins of the St Andrews flag and cross comes from when Saint Andrew was crucified by the Romans at Patras (Patrae) in Achaea. His crucifixion was not like that of Jesus, but done diagonally on a cross of the form called Crux decussata which translates to X-shaped cross. This explains the white cross. The dark blue background is a symbol of the sky. This form of cross soon became known as the St Andrew's Cross. Andrew requested to die this way because he did not think he was worthy enough to die the same way, on an upright cross, like his Lord Jesus had.

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF SAINT ANDREW’S DAY

 

People in Scotland and Scottish people who find themselves living abroad celebrate St Andrew's Day by playing or listening to bagpipe music and dancing to Scottish music.

The day following St Andrew's Day marks the first day of Advent on 1 December.

A young woman or girl should pray on the night of the 29 November to be married. They would look for a sign about their future husband on the 30 November. One such sign would be to throw a shoe at the door of her parents house. If the toe pointed to the house she would be staying there another year. If it pointed away from the home she would be leaving to be wed within the year and live with her spouse.

Another old custom from Saint Andrew Day is that a young woman should try and peel an apple in one go. This peel would then form the initial name of her intended.

There is no specific food that should be eaten on St Andrews Day, though some enjoy cock-a-leekie soup as a started and a main course of haggis whilst others eat fish because Saint Andrew was a fisherman. There are some traditional Scottish recipes at www.scottishrecipes.co.uk

A modern day custom on Saint Andrews day is free admission to Scottish Castles that are maintained by Historic Scotland. These include free entry to Edinburgh Castle, St Andrews Castle and St Andrews Cathedral today to celebrate St Andrews Day.

If you are planning to visit Scotland one day click on this interactive map.