Saint Andrew's Day
Patron Saint
On 30 November, Scottish people celebrate St. Andrew's Day, the patron saint of Scotland. He was one of the Twelve Apostles and brother of Simon Peter (Saint Peter). He was a fisherman who lived in Galilee (Israel).
Scotland
Scotland is located in the north of Great Britain. It consists of two main parts: The Highlands and The Lowlands, surrounded by small islands.
Cities
The main cities of this country are: Edinburgh (the capital), Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee.
Flag
People think that St. Andrew died on a diagonally transverse cross, St. Andrew's cross, also called Saltire. It is said to be one of the oldest national flags of any country, dating back at least to the 12th century.
Emblem
The national emblem is the thistle, a purple flower. According to legend, an army of Vikings tried to conquer a party of sleeping Scots but one of the Vikings stood on a thistle and yelled in pain, awaking the Scots, who won the battle.
Language
Although Scottish people speak English, they also speak Scottish Gaelic. It’s a Celtic language native to Scotland.
Music
The national instrument of Scotland is the bagpipe and it is best represented in the music of the Scottish Highlands. Every August pipers from around the world gather in Glasgow for the world championships.
Clothes
Scots often wear kilts. A kilt is a woolen skirt with a checked pattern called tartan. Each clan (Scottish word for family or tribe) has its own special tartan. Men wear a leather money bag called a “sporran” with the kilt.
Food
On special occasions, Scots eat haggis. It’s lamb, heart, liver and animal fat boiled inside a sheep’s stomach.
Drinks
Scottish traditional drink is whiskey, which means “the water of life” in Gaelic language.
Games
Scots enjoy the Highland Games. They’re competitions for Scottish dancing and sports such as tossing the caber (a 5-metre long piece of wood) or throwing the hammer.
Golf
It’s the national sport and it dates back to 15th century in Scotland.
Famous Scots
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish patriot who led resistance against the English and briefly gained control of Scotland in 1298.
Robert Burns (25 January 1759-1796) was a Scottish poet. His most famous poem is “Auld Lang Syne”. It’s sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve (Hogmanay). On Burn’s birthday every year people have parties, eat haggis, drink whiskey, dance to bagpipe music and read his poems.
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright and poet. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy or The Lady of the Lake.
