WITH St Andrew's Day just around the corner, people all across Scotland will be gearing up to celebrate the country's patron saint.

Andrew became Scotland's saint all the way back in 1320 when the Declaration of Arbroath was signed.

Since then, Scotland has been part of an exclusive club of countries which have the disciple as their patron saint.

Why is St Andrew the patron saint of Scotland?

Andrew was selected as Scotland's patron saint in 1320 when Scotland made an appeal to the Pope for protection against English incursions.

His position as the brother of Saint Peter, the founder of the church, as well as his role as one of Jesus's disciples, made him the ideal candidate.

There are also a number of myths and legends used to justify Andrew's special place in Scottish history.

One such story is that Andrew, who was well-known for evangelising far and wide, travelled to Scotland to establish a church in Fife. 

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What other countries and cities is St Andrew the patron saint of?

Why does Scotland celebrate St Andrew's Day and why is he our patron saint?

When is St Andrew's Day?

St Andrew's Day usually takes place on November 30. However, this year, the day will officially be observed on December 2 as November 30 falls on a Saturday.

St Andrew's Day will take place on a Saturday this yearSt Andrew's Day will take place on December 2 this year (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Is there a bank holiday in Scotland for St Andrew's Day?

Yes, St Andrew's Day is an official bank holiday in Scotland.

November 30 was officially declared a bank holiday by the Scottish Government in 2006. 

However, it should be noted that employers are not required by law to give employees a holiday on the St Andrew's Day bank holiday.