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St Andrew's Day - a national celebration
22/11/2005
Scotland's capital will be the venue for a free One Scotland Ceilidh which is to be the centrepiece of a national programme of events to mark November 30 and celebrate modern Scotland.
The ceilidh will take place around an open air stage in the Lawnmarket and inside the Hub at the top of the Royal Mile themed around the 'One Scotland Many Cultures' campaign. Artists participating include Dougie Maclean, Tartan Dholies, Peatbog Faeries, Wild Cigarillos Ceilidh Band and Croft 5.
Other St Andrew's Day events include:
- A performance of songs in the Burns tradition in Dumfries
- An exhibition of archive material, Documents that Shaped the Nation, in Rutherglen
- The Glenfiddich Sprit of Scotland Awards, celebrating the best of Scottish talent
The government will also support many St Andrew's Day events across the world, from Chicago to Tokyo, including a Taste of Scotland event in Brussels, acknowledging last year's St Andrew's message by First Minister Jack McConnell promised that the anniversary would become a day of national and international celebration, with 2005 marking Scotland's increasing cultural diversity.
Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform Tom McCabe said:
"There is absolutely no doubt St Andrew's Day holds a special place in the heart of Scots. It gives us the opportunity to celebrate together what we value about our national identity and the modern diversity of our communities.
"I believe this is the most ambitious range of St Andrew's Day events ever held. Scotland and the rest of the world will host a great mix of celebrations, including the ceilidh in Scotland hosted by the Executive which is the first national celebration of St Andrew's Day to be held in the capital.
"But this is just the start - we want to build on this programme. We are determined that future years put in place an even more ambitious series of St Andrew's Day events which can be promoted abroad and, crucially, which communities across Scotland will all be part of."
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"St Andrew's Day is Scotland's Day and this year we are celebrating Scotland's many cultures on our national day. Scotland is a modern, diverse country - proud of its heritage while embracing many cultures, religions and backgrounds.
"We know that this country is a stronger place when people come together to share their ideas, experiences and their traditions. The One Scotland Ceilidh in the capital will provide a great way for communities to celebrate and enjoy entertainment which will showcase the rich musical talent we have here in Scotland and reflect diverse cultural influences."
Scottish Ministers will be involved in a number of events:
- The First Minister will attend the Glenfiddich Awards Ceremony in Edinburgh on November 30
- The Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform will attend the annual Brussels St Andrew's Lecture on November 29 to be delivered by best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith
- The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport will attend a St Andrew's Day event at the University of Glasgow's Crichton campus in Dumfries, at which Scottish songwriters will perform, for the first time, selected songs in the Burns tradition
- The Minister for Communities will attend a Race Equality Champions lunchtime event being hosted by the Commission for Racial Equality in the Scottish Parliament
- The Minister for Environment and Rural Development is to host a Taste of Scotland evening reception in Brussels
- The Minister for Communities and the Minister for Children and Young People will attend an evening reception being hosted by the Scottish Inter Faith Council in the Scottish Parliament. This reception is part of the celebration of interfaith work between Scotland's diverse faiths and religions and is linked to the 'One Scotland Many Cultures' theme of St. Andrew's Day
- The Minister for Communities will open the Executive's One Scotland ceilidh concert
Lanarkshire Council is hosting a St. Andrew's Night event in Rutherglen Town Hall. The event, which is being organised by the Scottish Council on Archives, is entitled Documents that Shaped the Nation. It will feature a panel of Scotland's top historians, as well as MSPs Wendy Alexander and Tommy Sheridan.
Around the world:
- Abuja, Nigeria: Caledonia Ball
- Amman, Jordan: The Embassy Club with 70-strong UK police contingent to hold a St. Andrew's Day party on November 24
- Ankara, Turkey: Caledonia Society holding St. Andrew's Day ball
- Australia: St Andrew's Day celebrations
- Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro: event
- Boston: St Andrew's Day event
- Bratislava: St Andrew's Day events
- Brunei: St Andrew's Society events
- Brussels: St Andrew's Day events
- Chicago, USA: Deputy Management Officer at British Consulate holding St. Andrew's Day event
- Denmark: Ambassador and representatives to attend Caledonia Society St. Andrew's Day Ball
- The Gambia
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: British Consulate to hold Caledonia Society St. Andrew's Day ball
- Kolkata, India: Embassy to hold a grand charity ball on 26 November to celebrate St. Andrew's Day
- Latvia: The British Chamber of Commerce in Latvia is organising its monthly dinner with a Scottish theme for St Andrew's Day
- Lusaka, Zambia: Caledonia Society to hold St. Andrew's Day Ball
- Macedonia: St. Andrew's Day reception
- Mumbai, India: British Deputy High Commission to hold a St. Andrew's Day event on 19 November
- Madrid, Spain: Caledonia Ball to be held
- Moscow: St Andrew's Day event
- New York: St Andrew's Day event
- Panama City: St Andrew's Day event
- Papua New Guinea: St Andrew's Day celebrations
- Peru: St Andrew's Day events
- Prague, Czech Republic: Caledonia Society Ball to be held
- Riyadh: St Andrew's Ball
- Seychelles: St Andrew's Day celebrations
- Sri Lanka: St Andrew's Day events
- St Petersburg: St Andrew's Day celebrations
- Tashkent: several events taking place
- The Netherlands: St Andrew's Day celebrations
- Tokyo, Japan: British Embassy to hold a St. Andrew's Day ball
- Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: British Embassy holding an event
- Warsaw: St Andrew's Day competition
- Zagreb, Croatia: St Andrew's Day event