St Andrews Day Celebrations Around the World

The development of St Andrew’s Societies - St Andrew Patron Saint

Overseas, Scots became homesick and wanted to help their fellow-countrymen. In the northeast of America, on 6 January 1657, only 20 years after the founding of the city, the Scots Charitable Society of Boston was organised for the relief of Scots. The world’s first Society of Saint Andrew was formed in Charleston, South Carolina on 30 November 1729. Founded by immigrant Scots, many from Aberdeen and Fife, the Society was dedicated to the relief of suffering and distress among inhabitants of the infant colony. Twenty years later, the Saint Andrew’s Society of Philadelphia was started by 25 Scottish residents to give relief to the poor and the distressed. Two signatories of the Declaration of Independence — James Wilson (a graduate of St Andrews University) and John Witherspoon DD, a native of Paisley and president of Princeton College — were founder members.

In 1756 the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York was founded as a charitable organisation. Then came the North British Society in Halifax, Nova Scotia, founded in 1768, open to persons of Scottish relationship by descent, marriage or affiliation. In Canada, the Saint Andrew’s Society of Montreal was established in 1835, setting up the Saint Andrew’s Home and other directly charitable agencies. The Saint Andrew’s Society of Toronto followed a year later. The London, Ontario St Andrew’s and Caledonian Society appeared around 1875. The first Scots to celebrate St Andrew’s Day in Montreal may have been those who served with the Chevalier Johnstone in the army of Louis X. The Scots fighting for George III certainly did so. The first recorded St Andrew’s Ball was held on 2 December 1816. The Montreal Herald describes the elegant scene:

The dancing commenced about seven o’clock and continued with great spirit till after midnight, when the company to the number of about 130, sat down to a sumptuous and elegant supper … The supper room was handsomely decorated, having at the upper end a transparency of glass lit behind by candles representing St Andrew at full length. The supper was lavish: a pyramid of quail, a suckling pig à l’Italienne and a boar’s head. The entry of the Haggis was a central feature. After supper the dancing continued with much vivacity till five o’clock …

Today there are St Andrew’s Societies in practically every corner of the planet.

Continuing St Andrew’s Day Celebrations Today

In Calgary, Alberta and Chicago, Illinois; in Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida and Modesto, California; in Java and Bangkok and Singapore and many other locations, people gather on 30th November to dance the "dashing white sergeant", to drink a dram or two, to hear a ballad, a tale, a snatch of song and the irresistible bagpipe's call to the moor. Take for example, the St Andrew's Day Gathering in Sydney, Australia or the annual St Andrew's Day Ball in San Francisco. In short, people gather to indulge in 'Scottishness'. And why not – no events organiser could think up a better 'party pack'. But what's telling – and the locations listed above are just a fraction of those around the world boasting St Andrew's Societies – is the strength of connection with Scotland.

Scotland's St Andrew’s Day Celebration

The night of the patron saint is an ideal time to celebrate such connection. And it's not the preserve of the Scottish Diaspora either, there's plenty of celebration at home in Scotland. Ceilidhs test the floorboards of many a village hall from Gretna Green to Lerwick on 30th November. In the town that bears the saint's name, St Andrew's, there's a week-long festival of arts and activities. And since November 30th 1996, when the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland and housed in Edinburgh Castle it has been decreed that the Castle shall be open with free entry on every St Andrew's Day – in perpetuity – to allow the people of Scotland to view the fabled Stone. St Andrew's DO, a free event for all will also be running in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens throughout St Andrew's Day weekend 28th-30th November.

A Special Year for St Andrew – Homecoming Finale 2009

This year’s St Andrew’s Day is particularly special as it is a key part of the Homecoming Scotland Finale Weekend. Throughout 2009, Scotland has welcomed many thousands of visitors, in a year long celebration of Scottish culture. It is fitting that the Homecoming Year comes to an end with such a spectacular programme of activity around the National Day.

www.homecomingscotland2009.com