St Andrew's Day party set to reel in crowds

A MASSIVE St Andrew's Day celebration is to be held in Princes Street Gardens.

Giant marquees will be erected next to the Ross Bandstand for three days of events expected to attract thousands of revellers to the beauty spot.

The main events will be staged from 1-11pm on St Andrew's Day itself, Friday November 30, but the event arena will remain open over the weekend.

The Jig in the Gardens event, organised by the Scottish Government, will be one of seven major celebrations held across the country to mark Scotland's national day.

However, it is also expected to be the highlight of a whole week of special St Andrew's Week festivities in the Capital, including concerts, ceilidh dances, and live music sessions. The afternoon session, which starts at 1pm on November 30, will include live music, dance, storytelling, workshops and children's activities. A string of leading Celtic and traditional folk acts, including The Porridge Men, are expected to take to the stage in the evening for a "monster ceilidh", while DJs have also been booked for a "chill-out" area.

The Porridge Men are an Edinburgh-based ceilidh band who shot to fame last year after their music was selected by West Lothian skating stars John and Sinead Kerr for their performances at the Winter Olympics in Turin.

It is also hoped that a new world record for the biggest Dashing White Sergeant will be set at the Jig in the Gardens.

The event in West Princes Street Gardens marks the third year in a row of official St Andrew's Day celebrations in the Capital. Two years ago the Lawnmarket played host to an open-air concert, while a ceilidh dance was held in The Hub, on Castlehill.

The same events were due to be held last year but the Lawnmarket gig was cancelled at the eleventh hour. Most acts were rescheduled to appear inside The Hub.

First Minister Alex Salmond is set to unveil the full line-up of events and performers officially within the next few days.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "This year Scotland's national day will be celebrated the length and breadth of the country, and all over the world."

The Edinburgh-based Hands Up For Trad organisation runs the annual campaign to promote all the St Andrew's Night events being held across the country.

Organiser Simon Thoumire said: "St Andrew's Week is an ideal event to bring Scotland's traditional music to the public. It lets people get involved and understand why our own music is so brilliant."

THE FACTS

ST ANDREW'S DAY is on November 30 because that is regarded as the date of his martyrdom in Greece.

According to tradition, some of his relics were taken from Constantinople to Scotland and held in St Andrew's Cathedral, but were probably destroyed during the Reformation.

When Gordon Gray was made the first Scottish cardinal since the Reformation, Pope Paul VI gave him some of St Andrew's relics, which are now on display in a reliquary in St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh.

ST ANDREW'S WEEK CELEBRATIONS IN EDINBURGH

• Ceilidh with Teannich, Edinburgh University's Pollock Halls, November 23.

• Concert with Susan McCamley, Wee Folk Club, Royal Oak bar, November 25.

• Concert with Kate Campbell, Leith Folk Club, The Village, November 26.

• Ceilidh with Jimi Shandrix Experience, The Lot, Grassmarket, November 27.

• Concert with Adam McNaughtan, Balerno Bowling Club, November 27.

• Concert with Habadam, Leith Folk Club, The Village, Leith, November 26.

• Concert with Shona Mooney Band, Edinburgh Folk Club, Pleasance Cabaret Bar, November 28.

• Jig in the Gardens, West Princes Street Gardens, November 30.

• Ceilidh with the Belle Star Band, Portobello Town Hall, November 30.

• Ceilidh with Live 'n' Jigging, in aid of National Children's Homes Scotland, Edinburgh University's Pollock Halls, November 30.

• Ceilidh with the Hebrideans, Assembly Rooms, November 30.

• Concert with June Tabor, Queen's Hall, November 30.

• Concert with Best of the Songhouse 2005 and 2006, featuring Emily Smith, Boo Hewerdine, Riley Briggs, Sophie Bancroft, and Davey Scott, Queen's Hall, December 1.

• Concert with Best of the Songhouse 2007, featuring Nuala Kennedy, Midge Ure, left, Roddy Woomble, and Norman Blake, Queen's Hall, December 2.

• Ceilidh with Hud Yer Wheesht, Rudolf Steiner School, Spylaw Rd, December 1.