Saint Andrew's Day 2031: date and countries

Dates by country

Saint Andrew's Day 2031 by country
Country	Date	Local name
Romania	Sun 30 Novweekend	Sfântul Apostol Andrei, cel Întâi chemat, Ocrotitorul României

What is Saint Andrew's Day?

Saint Andrew's Day honours the Apostle Andrew, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus and the brother of Simon Peter, a fisherman from Galilee. According to tradition he preached in Asia Minor and around the Black Sea and was crucified at Patras in Greece. He is the patron saint of Scotland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine, among other places. His name comes from a Greek word meaning manly or brave. In the Orthodox Church he is called the First-Called, because the Gospel of John presents him as the first disciple to follow Jesus.

In Romania the day is called Sfântul Andrei and honours him as the Apostle of the Romanians and protector of the country. Romanian tradition says he preached in Scythia Minor, today's Dobruja on the Black Sea coast, where a cave linked to him is a place of pilgrimage. The Romanian Orthodox Church marks the feast with liturgies, and people named Andrei or Andreea celebrate their name day. Georgia has its own date: 12 May, when the arrival of Andrew in Georgia is commemorated, which became a public holiday in 2019.

Why it is observed

The cult of Andrew is ancient, and his feast on 30 November is kept by both Western and Eastern churches. In Romanian tradition, Andrew is regarded as the founder of the church among the Romanians, an idea that became an important part of Orthodox identity. Romania made 30 November a legal non-working day in 2012, through Law 147/2012 amending the Labour Code. The eve, 29 November, is known in folk custom as the night of the strigoi, when spirits are said to be abroad, and people traditionally hang garlic on doors and windows for protection.

How the date is set

Saint Andrew's Day is fixed on 30 November in the Western and Orthodox calendars. It is a public holiday in Romania on that date, and in Scotland as a bank holiday. Georgia marks a separate Saint Andrew the First-Called Day on 12 May.

How it is observed

Saint Andrew's Day is a public holiday in Romania, with banks, public offices and schools closed, and in 2027 it falls on a Tuesday. Romania's national day follows on 1 December. In Scotland it is a bank holiday, moved to the next weekday when 30 November is a weekend. In Georgia the holiday is on 12 May, not 30 November. Pay and time off depend on national law and the contract.

Sources

Questions

Good to know

When is Saint Andrew's Day in 2031?

Sunday, 30 November 2031 in all 1 countries that observe it (Romania).

Which countries observe Saint Andrew's Day?

In our coverage: Romania. Only holidays that apply across a whole country are counted.

Why is Saint Andrew's Day observed?

The cult of Andrew is ancient, and his feast on 30 November is kept by both Western and Eastern churches. In Romanian tradition, Andrew is regarded as the founder of the church among the Romanians, an idea that became an important part of Orthodox identity. Romania made 30 November a legal non-working day in 2012, through Law 147/2012 amending the Labour Code. The eve, 29 November, is known in folk custom as the night of the strigoi, when spirits are said to be abroad, and people traditionally hang garlic on doors and windows for protection.

How is the date of Saint Andrew's Day set?

Saint Andrew's Day is fixed on 30 November in the Western and Orthodox calendars. It is a public holiday in Romania on that date, and in Scotland as a bank holiday. Georgia marks a separate Saint Andrew the First-Called Day on 12 May.