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Kōrero: Public holidays

St Andrew's Day celebration

St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, was honoured by New Zealand's Scots settlers on 30 November each year. Often the local Caledonian society would organise a celebration. This is the toast list for a supper held by the Canterbury Caledonian Society in 1889, and it includes details of the entertainment provided. For 19th-century settlers, who still had strong emotional ties to their homeland, such occasions were important for maintaining cultural traditions.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: Eph-C-ASSOCIATION-C-1889

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Nancy Swarbrick, Public holidays – Celebrating communities, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/zoomify/32462/st-andrews-day-celebration (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Nancy Swarbrick, i tāngia i te 14 March 2012.

Comments


04 April 2016
Dear Trevor - you will need to contact Alexander Turnbull Library for permission to use this image. Kind regards, Jamie Mackay
Trevor Stewart
01 April 2016
Dear sirs, I am the President of Clan Stewart of NZ and also the current president of the Scottish clans Association in NZ. I wonder if I might ask you if I may have a digital copy of your fine document for our collection and amusement. I am building a calendar of significant days of celebration for those of Scottish Heritage and St Andrews Day would be a great addition to our list. You poster captures the occasion so well. If you have any other materials for Scottish anniversaries that would be of interest to our members I would welcome a copy of those too. If there is a charge please let me know by return. Thank you Kind regards Trevor Stewart Pres. Scottish Clans Association