It’s time to celebrate Scotland’s patron saint

Highland dancers perform at the St Andrews Day concert at the Invercargill Scottish Hall last...
Highland dancers perform at the St Andrews Day concert at the Invercargill Scottish Hall last year. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
A concert celebrating St Andrew and Scotland will be held this Saturday at the Scottish Hall.

There will be Highland dancing, singing, piping and a haggis ceremony.

St Andrew’s Scottish Society Southland secretary Kathy Richardson said the event was a celebration of the patron saint of Scotland and of all things Scottish.

"We hold this every year so guests and visitors can get a taste of Scotland.

"They can experience some real Scottish traditions in the singing and the dancing and the haggis.

"People can come and actually taste haggis," she said.

The St Andrew’s Day concert has grown into an annual event over the years and is designed to attract people who "were curious about their Scottish ancestry" and to anyone else interested in Scottish culture.

"This year we are starting out with a service at First Church at 10am with a kirking of the tartan.

"It's kind of the blessing of the clans and blessing of the tartans and where you can wear your kilts."

People were welcome to attend the church service before they attended the concert at the Scottish Hall in the afternoon, Mrs Richardson said.

"We also put on an afternoon tea with gorgeous sandwiches and shortbread."

■St Andrews Day Concert, November 24, 1.30pm, Invercargill Scottish Hall. Admission $5.