Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Scots traditionally celebrate St. Andrew`s Day in Baku on November 23.

As part of the activities organized by the Society of Caledonia in Baku, the celebratory procession of the Scottish bagpipers in national dress was held in Icherisheher (Old City).

From the area adjacent to the Gosha Gala Gapisi, the parade of Scottish bagpipers kicked off with the sound of folk music, passing through the streets of Icherisheher to signal that St. Andrew`s Day is an intercultural event.

Bagpipers` marching through the streets of the Old City lasted about an hour and ended near the Maiden Tower. A truly festive mood enlivened the Old City as national dances were performed in front of the Maiden Tower.

As part of the celebration, the musicians arrived in Baku from Scotland to present their musical heritage to our city, which is the cradle of diverse culture.

The Scots living and working in the country, as well as tourists and capital residents, also joined the ceremony.

St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and a celebration is held in his honor every year on November 30. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament designated St Andrew's Day as an official bank holiday. Although most commonly associated with Scotland, at least in the English-speaking world, Saint Andrew is also a patron saint in Greece, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and Barbados.

In Scotland, St Andrew's Day is marked with a celebration of Scottish culture with traditional Scottish food, music, and dance. Schools across Scotland hold special St Andrew's Day events and activities including art shows, Scottish country dancing, lunchtime ceilidhs, dance festivals, storytelling, reciting and writing poems, writing tall tales, cooking traditional Scottish meals, and bagpipe-playing. In Scotland, the day is also seen as the start of a season for Scottish winter festivals that encompass St Andrew's Day, Hogmanay and Burns Night. In Edinburgh, there is a week of celebrations, concentrating on musical entertainment and traditional ceilidh dancing. In Glasgow's city center, a large shindig, or party, with traditional music and a ceilidh is held. In Dumfries, songs are performed in the Burns Night tradition.