Scotland and other countries,as well as the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches,are observing St.Andrew's Day today,November 30.It is a bank holiday in Scotland-an optional day off which will take place on Monday,since November 30 is on Saturday this year.The weekend will be celebrated with parties,dances and dinners.People will paint their faces with the Saltire,the X-shaped St.Andrew's cross,which is also the flag of Scotland.
This year,the event is marred by tragedy,the dimensions of which are still unclear as of time of publication.A police helicopter crashed into a crowded pub,Clutha Vaults,in Glasgow,causing a roof collapse.Many people were trapped inside and rescue teams are gingerly extricating them.The structure is very unstable.Casualty figures are not being released yet,but several injuries and some fatalities are anticipated.
St.Andrew's Day is being observed with church services;the wearing of kilts;the ceilidh,or traditional dancing;preparation of traditional Scottish food;and the playing of bagpipes.
It is also celebrated in Romania;Greece;Russia;Ukraine;the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople;St.Andrew's Barbados;and in churches and ethnic communities worldwide.St.Andrew was one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ.He and his brother Peter left the fishing trade when they were called to be "fishers of men" by the Lord.According to tradition,he preached along the shores of the Black Sea and as far east as Kiev,founding the see of Byzantium-later called Constantinople and today Istanbul,Turkey-and installing its first permanent bishop,Stachys.Eventually he irked the pagans and was crucified for his faith by being bound to an X-shaped cross,according to the Acts of Andrew,an early text familiar to historian St.Gregory of Tours in the sixth century.
Scottish tourism publicises the holiday extensively.
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