St. Andrew's Day

**sav** · 30th November 06, 09:11 AM

Happy St. Andrews Day!

Alba Gu Brath!

I'll be wearing my Scottish National tank I got last year from Matt Newsome...

**Andrewson** · 30th November 06, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

To St. Andrew and Scotland yet!

For your perusal, an interesting link from the City of Edinburgh's web site:

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/librarie.../standrew.html

And one more:

http://www.st-andrew.org.uk/flagtrust.htm

Todd

Thanks for that Todd. I have been sporting my clan tartan all day today (Forsyth 8yd tank) but I got caught out by a question from a friend - "So why is St Andrew the patron saint of Scotland?" Came back to do some hurried research and found those pages useful.

It is interesting that the links between Scotland and the Saint are so tenuous (not that I'd describe the town of St Andrews as anything but substantial). But then Russia does not seem to have any better claim. At least St Andrew appears to have visited Greece, and maybe Romania. Has anybody got a good explanation why this particular saint was adopted by Scotland?

**macwilkin** · 30th November 06, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Andrewson

Thanks for that Todd. I have been sporting my clan tartan all day today (Forsyth 8yd tank) but I got caught out by a question from a friend - "So why is St Andrew the patron saint of Scotland?" Came back to do some hurried research and found those pages useful.

It is interesting that the links between Scotland and the Saint are so tenuous (not that I'd describe the town of St Andrews as anything but substantial). But then Russia does not seem to have any better claim. At least St Andrew appears to have visited Greece, and maybe Romania. Has anybody got a good explanation why this particular saint was adopted by Scotland?

See this paragraph in the above link:

One legend says that a man who later became St. Regulus (or Rule) carried the bones of St. Andrew to Scotland. His ship was wrecked on the Fife coast, and the spot at which the ship landed became the site of the town of St. Andrews. A cathedral was built there which was started in 1160 and took 158 years to build (the ruins can still be seen today) and the town became an important site of Christian pilgrimage.

St. Andrew was also adopted as patron of the Scots because of this legend:

Again there are different legends surrounding the use of the Saltire as Scotland's flag. Some people say that Angus dreamt one night that St. Andrew appeared to him and promised him a great victory. Angus was about to fight a battle with another king from the North of England, and this dream made him believe that the Scots would win. On the day of the battle a white cross appeared in the sky and Angus did win - this is why the flag of Scotland is sky blue with a white cross. The battle was at a place called Athelstaneford in the year 831.

And that's the rest of the story...

T.

**Andrewson** · 30th November 06, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

See this paragraph in the above link:

St. Andrew was also adopted as patron of the Scots because of this legend:

And that's the rest of the story...

T.

S
Sorry, I didn't read the page carefully enough. I read it as giving a tentative and uncertain account of the history based on legend rather than hard fact.

For some reason I read it as if the relics were lost in the shipwreck but something must have survived (or been substituted) for the legend of their landing in Killrymont in 600, at the latest, to have persisted to 1140 when the place was renamed St Andrews and the cathedral was started 20 years later. I really did forget how powerful legends can be if there are artifacts that can be associated with them.

I've learned something today - and all because I was wearing a kilt!

**beowulf67** · 30th November 06, 06:30 AM

I'll have a wee dram tonight, and think of you all.

Alba gu brath

**jiminak** · 30th November 06, 09:49 AM

A tad late I ken, but Happy St. Andrew's Day to you all!

Jim

**Pour1Malt** · 30th November 06, 09:57 AM

ai'd bae happier wi' Saint Glenfarclas arr Saint Lagavulin....

ah weel....

**starbkjrus** · 30th November 06, 10:18 AM

Happy St. Andrew's Day all. What everyone else said.

**O'Neille** · 30th November 06, 10:23 AM

Happy St. Andrew's Day. I wore my Regimental Gordon Today w/ an Aran sweater. We had our first freeze last night and I woke up to 20 F. All of my patients were pleased to see their Dr. Kilted and I'm happy too. O'Neille

**McClef** · 30th November 06, 10:42 AM

The posession of the bones of a saint was always good for the local economy

St Regulus has his memorial in the Royal Burgh of St Andrews in the tower named after him in the ruined cathedral and also the hall of residence (where I spent 4 years).

It's well worth a visit and not just for the golf!