'There was also a kind of volunteer effort in certain classes to get up an observance of the day consecrated to the national saint, November 30th, 1662, a Sunday. Many of our nobles, barons, gentry and others of the Kingdom put on ane livery or favour of revenue therof. This being a novelty I thought good to record it, because it was never of use herto fore since the Reformation.'

 

So wrote Robert Chalmers in his 'Domestic Annals of Scotland, Vol 2, From the Revolution to the Rebellion 1745' (1784) - well in 2003 'volunteers' are once again ensuring that Scotland is marking our National Saint's Day. As in 1662, St Andrew's Day in 2003 falls on a Sunday, and you will find events on both Saturday and Sunday commemorating Andermas throughout Scotland.

 

On Saturday (29 November 2003) a St Andrew's Day Parade will be held in Edinburgh, organised by the St Andrew's Day Rally Committee. Those attending are asked to assemble at East Market Street, just up from the Hebrides Bar, at 11.30am for a march off, led by the Stockbridge Pipe Band, at 12 noon prompt. The march will proceed along Princes Street, up Lothian Road, finishing at the Festival Square where speakers will include historians David R Ross and David Brown. Remember to bring your Saltire!

 

On Saturday and Sunday in over thirty venues, St Andrew's Day will be celebrated in traditional music and song. Visit www.handsupfortrad.co.uk for details of a venue near you. One venue deserves special mention as it is in St Andrews. St Andrews Golf Hotel will be the venue for the St Andrews Folk Club Reunion on St Andrew's Day (8-11pm). The St Andrews Folk Club was to the fore during the Scottish Folk Revival in the 1960s and Sunday will see the return of many long-time Club favourites. Singers Sheena Wellington and Jim Watson will host an evening which sees the doyen of Scottish Folk Song Archie Fisher, singer and broadcaster, being joined by Fife's favourite songwriter John Watt, Club founder Peter Shepheard and a dazzling array of singers and musicians including Aileen Carr, Brian Miller and Jimmy Hutchison. The younger generation will be well represented by singer Siobhan Miller, fiddler Ronan Watson and piper Donald Lindsay. The great Gaelic singer Ishbel MacAskill will also be making her St Andrews debut at the event. Tickets are only £6(£4) and available in advance from the St Andrews Tourist Information Centre, 70 Market Street, St Andrews (Tel 01334 472021).It should be a night to remember.

 

Just the ticket for all lovers of Scottish traditional music and song and those attending will probably be enjoying something a little stronger than a cup of tea. But a fresh pot of tea is the basis of this week's recipe!

 

Cup of Tea Cake

 

Ingredients : 4 oz (100 g) butter; 1 cup of tea; 1 teaspoon mixed spice; 8 oz (225 g) sugar; 8 oz (225 g) mixed fruit; 8 oz (225 g) self raising flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 egg

 

Put in pan, the butter, fruit and tea. Melt slowly, then bring to boil and simmer for two minutes. Cool. Sift dry ingredients, add cooled mixture and egg. Mix well. Bake in a loaf tin at 350 deg F/ 180 deg C/ gas mark 4 for one-and-a-half hours. Spread slices with butter

 

NB The tea should be freshly made and quite strong - it gives the cake a unique nutty flavour.