Scotland’s National Day and the Surprising Confusion Behind It
So, here’s something a bit unexpected—almost four in ten Scots don’t actually know the date of St Andrew’s Day. Yes, the national day of Scotland, celebrated every single year, and still a large chunk of people either mix it up or can’t quite remember when it actually falls. This came out in a national survey carried out by ScotPulse and commissioned by Aldi, and the results genuinely surprised a lot of people.
According to the research, most Scots recognise St Andrew’s Day as the country’s national day, but around 39% admit they’re unsure of the date. Even more interesting, only about one in four Scots say they celebrate it at all, despite the day being held every year on November 30. And the confusion doesn’t stop at simple forgetfulness—some people even picked November 31, which of course isn’t a real date. Others confused it with Burns Night, which happens in January. Clearly, there’s a bit of a national mix-up happening.
The survey revealed some patterns too. Women were slightly more likely than men to know the correct date. Younger Scots, especially those aged 16 to 34, were the least likely to answer correctly. It’s possible that while many people grew up hearing about the day, fewer actually mark it in their calendar or celebrate it in any special way.
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Aldi Scotland’s regional managing director, Sandy Mitchell, spoke about how important the day is for reflecting on Scotland’s heritage. He mentioned how surprised they were at the level of uncertainty surrounding the date, considering how central St Andrew’s Day is to the cultural calendar. And to help bring a bit more attention back to the celebration, Aldi has even created what they call the “Andrew Approved Feast,” based on the opinions of hundreds of Andrews, Andys and Drews across Scotland. The top picks were very traditional—haggis bon bons for starters, steak pie as the main, crispy roast tatties on the side, Scottish apple crumble for dessert and, of course, Irn-Bru for the drink.
But beyond the survey, the day itself carries deep history. St Andrew’s Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Andrew or Andermas, is observed every year on November 30 and is believed to honour the date of St Andrew’s martyrdom. While he has been recognised as Scotland’s patron saint for centuries, the day only began to be officially celebrated around the 18th century, and since 2006 it has been a Scottish bank holiday.
St Andrew was one of the apostles, the older brother of St Peter and a fisherman from Galilee. His story stretches across early Christianity, and his influence reached places like Ukraine, Romania and Russia, which also honour him as their patron saint. Pieces of his relics, including a fragment of his shoulder blade, are even kept in Edinburgh.
His connection to Scotland also ties deeply into national symbolism. The Saltire—the country’s iconic flag—comes from the legend of King Óengus II, who saw clouds form the shape of an X in the sky before winning a battle, a sign he believed came from the saint himself.
So, while not everyone remembers the date, the legacy of St Andrew’s Day runs far deeper than a simple mark on the calendar. It’s a moment for Scotland to celebrate its identity, culture, traditions and the stories that shaped the nation.
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