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St. Andrews Day

In Scotland, St Andrews Day is a Christian holiday that lands on November 30. It's seen as a day of celebration, often including ceilidh traditional dancing. This day is observed in many places, though only a holiday in Scotland.

Upcoming Dates For St Andrews Day

St Andrews Day is celebrated annually on the 30th of November. Although, if it lands on a weekend, it's celebrated on the following Monday. Here is a list of the upcoming celebration dates for St Andrews Day:

  • Thursday, November 30, 2017
  • Friday, November 30, 2018
  • Saturday, November 30, 2019 - Observed on Monday, December 2, 2019
  • Monday, November 30, 2020
  • Tuesday, November 30, 2021
  • Wednesday, November 30, 2022
  • Thursday, November 30, 2023
  • Saturday, November 30, 2024 - Observed on Monday, December 2, 2024
  • Sunday, November 30, 2025 - Observed on Monday, December 1, 2025

Where Is St Andrews Day Considered a Holiday?

In Scotland, it is a bank holiday. There is no school, and many businesses will be closed. Although, some will remain open to the public. Public transportation may run on a different schedule in different areas. Make sure to check ahead before making any plans. Also, it's important to note that it is not considered a bank holiday in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Festivities & Events During St Andrews Day

The most common way to celebrate St Andrews Day is through traditional ceilidh dancing. Ceilidh dancing is a social dance. It consists of four couples, making up 8 people in total. These couples dance around each other in celebration. In Glasgow there is a large party where dancing takes place alongside music. In many places throughout Scotland, the Union Flag is flown to celebrate. In Edinburgh, there is an entire week of celebrating. This week includes ceilidh dancing and traditional music. In Dumfries, the Burn's night tradition is song. There are many individual festivals or celebrations held in smaller towns as well. It celebrates Scottish tradition and culture. It also celebrates a sense of community and friendship. Since there are some ties in tradition with finding love, it may also been seen as a celebration of unity.

A Brief History About St Andrews Day

Although Scotland attempted to make it a holiday long before, the first celebration was in 2007. The Scottish government uses this holiday to celebrate the culture. St Andrew was considered the patron saint of Scotland. He has been recognized as such since the 9th century! There is a good deal of folklore regarding the holiday that included young women attempting to find their future husbands. This included a series of rituals, some of which are still practiced in present-day celebrations.