Each November 30, on the Feast Day of St. Andrew, Scots around the world celebrate Scotland's national day. Around 733 A.D, bones of St. Andrew, Patron Saint of Scotland, were brought to what is now St. Andrews in Scotland; eventually making it a significant site of pilgrimage. The national flag of Scotland incorporates the white St. Andrew's Cross on a blue background.
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland (also known as James II of England) who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order. The Order consists of the Sovereign and sixteen Knights and Ladies, as well as certain "extra" knights (members of the British Royal Family and foreign monarchs). The Sovereign alone grants membership of the Order; he or she is not advised by the Government, as occurs with most other Orders.