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 BBC Scotland's Nuala Napier reportsPublic and politicians have their say on whether there should be an official St Andrew's Day holiday  real 28k  |
St Andrew's Day holiday call
A Glasgow school tells St Andrew's story online |
What do you think? Should 30 November be a public holiday in Scotland? Let us know by e-mail. Read your responses here.
It is St Andrew's Day in Scotland, the day dedicated to the nation's patron saint.
But there are no ticker tape parades, no fireworks and any celebrations are fairly low-key.
The Scottish National Party wants to change all that and make 30 November a public holiday.
One of its MSPs, Dorothy Grace Elder, has presented Scottish Parliament staff with a large Saltire cake to compensate for being asked to work on St Andrew's Day, a non-parliamentary day.
Parliament is not sitting |
Ms Grace Elder said: "St Andrew's Day is Scotland's national day, and should be designated a national public holiday.
"We should celebrate our national day as other European nations do - notably the Irish - and use it as a day to showcase our country and its attractions throughout the world.
'Commercial opportunity'
"A properly organised St Andrew's Day holiday would be a major marketing and commercial opportunity for Scotland.
The SNP wants a national celebration |
"Although it is a non-parliamentary day, the staff have to come in and work - just as SNP MSPs are working either in the parliament or in the constituencies.
"A far better arrangement all round would be for the Executive to designate St Andrew's Day a national holiday next year - so that everyone can have a day off, and make it a special day for Scotland."
Oldest flag in Commonwealth
November 30 is the feast day of St Andrew, who is the patron saint of fishermen. He is also the patron saint of Russia.
The Saltire, or St Andrew's Cross, the national flag of Scotland, is the oldest flag of the British Commonwealth or of any other European country.
Legend has it that the flag originated during a battle in the year 832 AD just outside the present-day East Lothian village of Athelstaneford.
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See also: |
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01 Dec 99 | Scotland |
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Your views on St Andrew's Day |
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30 Nov 99 | Scotland |
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Queen unveils castle restoration |
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30 Nov 99 | Scotland |
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McAleese marks Scottish first |
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Internet links: |
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Catholic Online Saints - St Andrew |
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Richmond School, Glasgow, tells the St Andrew story |
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The Saltire |
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Scottish National Party |
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The Saltire Society |
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The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites |
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Links to other Scotland stories are at the foot of the page.
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