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November 30, 2005
St Andrew's Day
According to the informal poll in the Scotsman this morning, 97 percent of people think St Andrew’s Day should be a national holiday - and why not? Why are the politicians so timid when it comes to raising the status of Scotland’s national day?
I am more inclined to celebrate Robert Burns than an obscure Christian saint with no connection to Scotland - but there is plenty of room for all in the national pantheon.
We have only eight statutory bank holidays in Scotland. This is a relatively small number. Wikipedia has a list of national holidays by country, which can be difficult to interpret, however if I am right the French and the Irish have 10, the Italians 11 etc.
Wikipedia did not list national holidays in Scotland - i have remedied this.
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/01/bankholidays
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Publicholidaysby_country
heritage.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=656
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2325712005
Posted by Simon Holledge at November 30, 2005 12:09 PM
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Comments
Look Simon, I have no objection to a Scottish National holiday, despite my reservations about its sinister nationalistic undertones, but you shoot yourself in the foot by mentioning that idiot Burns.
You see, I understand that the symbols of Scottish identity that you chaps foist on the outside world - Burns, haggis, porridge, bagpipes, kilts and so forth - are all just japes to make the rest of the world look damn silly by adopting them, but why make yourselves miserable.
There are plenty of things that Scotland can be proud of - Billy Connolly, Denis Law, Loch Awe on a day (normally 3rd June) when it isn't raining and the Incredible String Band, without even thinking too hard. Use one of these, or if you need a poet, may I commend James McNulty.
Posted by: Vicus Scurra at November 30, 2005 02:35 PM