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Motion · S6M-18802 · 10 Sep 2025

St Andrew's Day 2025

Lodged by Michelle Thomson Members' Business Motion 26 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament recognises that St Andrew’s Day is marked each year on 30 November; notes what it considers is the importance of these annual celebrations at a local, national and global level; highlights what it sees as the opportunities that celebrating St Andrew’s Day brings to the people of Scotland; believes that these include recognising national identity and cultural diversity, and cementing the country as one of the oldest nations in the international community; thanks the former MSP, Dennis Canavan, who, it considers, worked hard to gain cross-party agreement to make St Andrew’s Day a national holiday in Scotland through introducing a Member's Bill, which, on 15 January 2007, became the St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007; acknowledges what it sees as the economic benefits that global recognition brings to Scotland through the culture, business, education, tourism and retail sectors, supported by the use of the Saltire as both the national flag and the "Brand Scotland" identifier of Scottish produce and marketing; understands that St Andrew is an internationally recognisable figure across faith communities and that, while he has been the patron saint of Scotland since the 14th century, Andrew is also a patron of many other countries, bringing together different nationalities, faiths and cultures; acknowledges the events hosted by the countries that identify St Andrew as their patron or that have a significant Scottish diaspora; commends all in Scotland who will celebrate St Andrew’s Day 2025 and recognises the importance of the national day, and notes the plans for future events being held across Scotland and other countries to strengthen cultural, trade and tourism connections with Scotland.

Supporters (26)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.