St Andrew’s Day

St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. Each year on the 30th November his “feast” is celebrated and has become Scotland’s “National Day”, “St Andrew’s Day”.

To my knowledge, not very much has been done historically to mark it until recent times, when an upsurge in Scottish Nationalism has renewed interest, spurred on by a devolved Scottish Parliament.

Despite being about a “saint”, it isn’t a particularly religious day either, at least in the wider secular society. With the trend to celebrate “Scottishness” some have increasingly been using the occasion to roll out the haggis, whisky (the ‘national’ drink), shortbread, Irn Bru (the ‘other national drink’), tartan, to have a ceilidh, etc. and promote the Scottish cultural clichés.

However, I thought an appropriate way to mark the day this year would be to include a popular rendition of a world famous song performed by the Royal Scot’s Dragoon Guards, “Amazing Grace” which is set in this rendition to a photographic sequence of stunning Scottish scenery.

Video courtesy of “glenzboyz” and YouTube.

Happy “St Andrew’s Day” to all Scots and everyone else around the world for whom this day has meaning.