Celebrating St Andrew’s day in style.
Each year St Andrew’s day seems to come and go, let us celebrate in style our wonderful heritage and culture. The 30th of November is treated just as any other normal day by most of us, but not here at Kilts Wi Hae. Let’s celebrate St Andrew’s, let’s make it a national holiday, let’s have a cake, let us all wear tartan and saltires and be proud of our own special day.
So why should we still mark this occasion? Who was St Andrew?
St Andrew’s day is the day dedicated to celebrating the Scottish patron saint Andrew. However very little is actually known about the events of Andrew’s life. Many different accounts of his life have been given, but with such variation in these tales and his life having been so long ago, it is virtually impossible to fully understand who St Andrew was and what he did for the world.
He was said to have been a fisherman and one of Jesus’ disciples. He was involved with the ‘Feeding of the Five Thousand’; this gave him the reputation of helping those in need. His trade allowed him to help feed the population of Greece in times when there was a lot of poverty.
Andrew was a very curious man who had a love for travel. During his travels he was captured and taken to be ‘sacrificed to the gods’. He was hung on the 30th of November on a X-shaped cross.
Legend has it that some of his remains are now in the Scottish town of St Andrews (giving the town its name).
https://www.kiltswihae.co.uk/scottish-saltire-flag-bow-tie-7440-p.asp
St Andrew was first recognised as the patron saint of Scotland in 1320 at the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath.
https://www.kiltswihae.co.uk/declaration-of-arbroath-scottish-wall-plaque-14893-p.asp
Despite not being Scottish, St Andrew became a fitting patron saint for Scotland due to his personality and traits – those of which are prominent in the Scottish culture and its people. The spirit of St Andrew lives on in the Scottish residents who are known for giving such warm and friendly welcomes to those who are lucky enough to visit their beautiful country. Scotland is also known for its charitable nature and desire to help those in need, just as St Andrew did.
Traditionally the day celebrates Scottish culture with friends, food, drinking and dancing.
So this year let’s remember St Andrew and embrace our patriotism!