St Andrew’s Day 2021 Traditions, Celebrations, Bank Holiday, Scotland, Edinburgh

St Andrew’s Day falls on November 30 every year to commemorate St. Andrew the Apostle, the patron saint of Scotland.

St. Andrew’s Day 2021 Traditions

This day is celebrated and has been a public holiday since 2007 in Scotland. An official Flag Day of Scotland, the Saltire of Saint Andrew’s cross, is hoisted on all public buildings.

St. Andrew’s Day 2021 Celebrations

On St. Andrew’s Day, the Scottish and many Scottish affiliates celebrate Scottish culture, as well as traditional Scottish food, dance, and music. St. Andrew’s Day is observed as the beginning of a season of Scottish winter festivals namely the week-long celebrations that mark St. Andrew’s Day, Hogmanay, and Burns Night.

St. Andrew’s Day 2021 Bank Holiday

In history, the Scottish government officially declared St. Andrew’s Day as a bank holiday in 2006. Banks are not required to close on November 30 if they do not want to.

Despite being a bank holiday, employers are not required by law to give employees a holiday on the St Andrew’s Day bank holiday. If the day falls on a weekend, the next Monday is considered a bank holiday.

St. Andrew’s Day 2021 Scotland

2021’s celebrations in main Scotland may be slightly hindered as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage, yet it will be celebrated slightly differently from normal.

St. Andrew’s Day 2021 Edinburgh

St. Andrews Day in Edinburgh will feature several special celebrations in 2021. A few notable ones are a 1-hour 30-minute tour at The Real Mary King’s Close in the center of the Edinburgh Old Town.

The attraction will include three special drams from across Scotland provided by local whisky expert retailers Jeffrey Street Whisky and Mary King’s Close whisky. A lead-up event will feature evening music and spoken word from renowned Scottish choirs, poets, and singers.