A national survey has revealed that just 25% of people in Edinburgh celebrate St Andrew’s Day, and at a national level almost four in ten (39%) Scots are unable to identify the date of St Andrew’s Day, highlighting a surprising gap in awareness surrounding the country’s patron saint.
The research by ScotPulse which was commissioned by Aldi Scotland, found that while most Scots recognise St Andrew’s Day as the country’s national day, many are unsure of the date, and even fewer mark the occasion.
Just one in four (26%) Scots say they celebrate St Andrew’s Day, held annually on 30 November, with confusion rife across the nation about what date it actually falls on. Some mistakenly believe it happens on 25 November (11%), 29 November (8%), with an additional 8% also believing it falls on 31 November – a date that doesn’t exist. Others mix it up with Burns Night in January.
The survey also found:
- Women are more likely than men to know the correct date (64% vs 57%).
- Younger Scots are the least likely to know what date it falls on, with just 43% of 16–34-year-olds answering correctly.
Aldi is a prominent champion of Scottish food and drink, and Scotland’s leading supermarket for locally sourced products. In October, it was named in the NFU Scotland’s ShelfWatch 2025 Mid-Year Report as the most prominent retailer to support Scottish produce, with 41% of its shelf stock now sourced locally.
In honour of its position as the nation’s most trusted supermarket of Scottish goods, the retailer is helping Scots to celebrate St Andrew’s Day this year with a feast including locally produced food and drink, which has all been approved by modern day Andrews.
After surveying hundreds of Andrews, Andys and Drews across Scotland on their favourite festive flavours, Aldi Scotland has revealed the results of its nationwide search for the “Andrew Approved Feast.”
Following a social media vote, it was revealed that the most popular meal selection for St Andrew’s Day is:
- Starter: Haggis Bon Bons with 52% of the votes
- Main Course: Steak Pie with 66% of the votes
- Side: Crispy roast tatties with 44% of the votes
- Dessert: Scottish apple crumble with 42% of the votes
- Drink: IRN BRU with 53% of the votes
Shoppers can pick up Aldi’s Andrew Approved Feast for less than a tenner, with the total cost coming to just £9.75:
- Haggis Bon Bons: Specially Selected Haggis Bon Bons, 240g £2.29
- Steak Pie: Frasers Small Top Crust Steak Pie, 400g £2.99
- Crispy Roast Tatties: Scottish Baking Potatoes 4 pack, £0.79
- Dessert: The Dessert Menu Bramley Apple Pie, 550g £2.99
- Drink: Vive Iron Brew 2L £0.69
Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland said: “St Andrews Day is a key moment in Scotland’s cultural calendar and gives Scots the chance to reflect on our history and traditions. We were surprised to see that so many Scots don’t know when St Andrew’s Day is, and that so few actually take the time to celebrate it.
“At Aldi Scotland, we truly believe we have some of the best food and drink in the world, and we are proud to be a champion of local producers.
“St Andrew’s Day on 30 November is the perfect opportunity for everyone to come together, enjoy fantastic local food, raise a glass, and celebrate everything that makes Scotland such a special place.”
