November 2017 (Vol. 41, Number 05)
The Banner Says…
St Andrew’s Day- Celebrating a nation
This month many Scots around the world will be coming together to celebrate a Scottish tradition-St Andrew’s Day. The patron saint of Scotland (and several other nations) is celebrated across Scotland and around the world with traditional dances, food, whisky, music and of course kilts, in and around November 30th.
St Andrew has been the patron saint of Scotland for over 1000 years and the celebration of St Andrew’s Day in Scotland is believed to date back to the reign of Malcolm III.
Whilst our Scottish readers may enjoy a public holiday around St Andrew’s Day, with many cultural and historic attractions offering free entry across Scotland. Across the world Scots will pay homage to St Andrew and their love for Scotland at a variety of events and gatherings. The international reach of St Andrew may surprise some with his remains kept in Scotland, Greece, Italy and Poland.
St Andrew is not only the patron saint of Scotland but also Russia, Barbados, Romania, Ukraine, Amalfi in Italy, Esgueira in Portugal, Luqa in Malta, Parañaque in the Philippines and Patras in Greece and each area honours St Andrew in their own unique way. The Caribbean nation of Barbados also has St Andrew as their patron saint and use St Andrew’s Day as their nations Independence Day.
Beyond borders
Beyond borders St Andrew is also the patron saint of singers, spinsters, maidens, old maids, fishmongers and women seeking to become mothers.
From anywhere in the world computer users will also note a bit of Scotland on their search functions as since 2009 Google has incorporated a St Andrew’s Day Google doodle. The internet giant has in the past presented on November 30th some of Scotland’s most loved landscapes such as the Isle of Skye and Loch Lomond on their general search function area reaching millions of international computer users and highlighting Scotland’s day.
In Scotland St Andrew’s Day marks the beginning of the winter festival season and opens the door for a couple of months of unique Scottish tradition and celebration. With Christmas, Hogmanay and Burns Night all following behind St Andrew’s Day there is lots coming up this winter for visitors. So if you are heading back to Scotland over these next few months rug up and enjoy all the cultural events Scotland has to offer.
In this Issue
This month we speak to Finlay Wilson, the Kited Yogi, who has taken the internet by storm with a series of videos shot amongst the beauty of Scotland, highlighting the ancient practice of yoga, whilst wearing a kilt. This may sound slightly bizarre to some, it has been a hit with tens of millions of people around the world and added yet another reason to visit Scotland. If any readers are now practising yoga in their kilts we would love to hear from you-this just may be the next craze…
This month as we celebrate St Andrew we are also taking readers to the east coast of Scotland to the historic town of St Andrews itself. I remember visiting the town as a teenager and being amazed by the beauty of the place. I don’t golf but it was the charm of its historic streets perched on the North Sea that had an impact on my memory.
Period dramas have never been more popular in television and film and as we go to press cast and crew are currently working in Scotland on a new production called the Outlaw King about King Robert the Bruce for the television streaming service Netflix. The series covers an extraordinary and historic year when Robert the Bruce fights to regain control after being crowned King of Scots, only to be defeated in a surprise attack and made an outlaw by the English King and his occupying forces. This sounds a must see and is expected to be released in 2018, a great opportunity for Scots and the wider community to learn about an incredible period of Scottish history.
Everyone has a phobia and mine would most certainly be rats. The Shiant Isles Recovery Project has worked hard to eradicate rats who have lived on the Shiant Isles in the Outer Hebrides for 150 years in order to save Scotland’s great seabirds and one of the most important bird habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. It is wonderful to see Scotland working hard to protect its natural heritage and our feathered friends.
This month just goes to show that celebrating your connection to Scotland is as easy as attending an event (see our events page for some great inspiration!), turning on a computer or maybe even practicing yoga… Whatever celebrations you have, we hope you enjoy the month ahead.
How are you celebrating St Andrew’s Day? Share your story with us by email, post or at www.scottishbanner.com/contact-us
In Scotland St Andrew’s Day marks the beginning of the winter festival season and opens the door for a couple of months of unique Scottish tradition and celebration.
Please share with us your views by email, post or at www.scottishbanner.com/contact-us