St Andrew's Day 2024 and in 2025 year

November 30 has been marked as St Andrew’s Day, as specified by most churches. In Scotland, this is a bank holiday. However, if this holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Monday that follows is considered the bank holiday. 

Is St Andrew’s Day a Public Holiday?

In Scotland, St. Andrew’s Day is a free day for everyone, including most businesses and schools. St. Andrew was born around the sea side of Galilee, in Bethesda. His elder brother was St. Peter. Both St Andrew and St Peter were Jesus’ disciples. History has it that he died after being bound to an “X” shaped cross in Achaea, Greece. The shape can be found on the Scottish flag, which is called the Saltire. St Andrew is known as the Scotland’s patron back in the ninth century. 

In 2003, the first bill was passed to declare St Andrew’s Day one of Scotland’s bank holiday. The Scottish Parliament later rejected the bill in 2005 on it first reading. Their reason was based on the effect of the bank holiday on the Scottish economy. However, the First Minister of Scotland eventually supported the bills after series of negotiation. The result among others regarding the bills was that employees should not be given an additional holiday, but any holiday that falls on St Andrew’s Day can replace the local holiday for that day. 

The Scottish Parliament eventually passed the 2007 St Andrew’s Day Bank Holiday was then passed on November 29 2006 by the Scottish Parliament. On January 15 2007, Queen Elizabeth II gave it Royal Assent. On November 30 2007, the St Andrew’s Day bank holiday was observed for the first time. This was the opportunity the Scottish government used in supporting Scottish culture celebration globally.