St Andrew's Day (Nov 30)

Scotland's national day, on the thirtieth of November, marking the feast of Saint Andrew, the patron saint. It is a bank holiday in Scotland and is observed with ceilidhs, dinners and civic events at home and across the Scottish diaspora.

St Andrew's Day is the national day and has no set running order. Burns Night on the twenty fifth of January celebrates the poet and follows a fixed sequence of piping, the Selkirk Grace, the address to the haggis and formal toasts.

A kilt or a tartan skirt with a sash at anything organised, and whatever you like elsewhere. It is generally less formal than Burns Night, so an Argyll jacket rather than a Prince Charlie covers most events comfortably.

Because Saint Andrew was said to have been crucified on an X shaped cross, which became the saltire. That is also why the saltire appears on so many Scottish district tartans and why blue and white pairings turn up throughout Highland dress.

Less formalised than Burns Night, though Scottish produce features heavily and a ceilidh often follows. There is no set running order, which is the main difference between the two occasions.

It is a bank holiday, though observance varies and many businesses stay open. Schools and public bodies are the most likely to mark it. Events run in the evening rather than through the day.