St. Andrews Day

Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland, and St. Andrew's Day is celebrated by Scots around the world on the 30th November. They just passed a bill that made it an official business holiday so we got the day off... but seeing as it fell on a thursday (the busiest day at parliament) we took friday off instead. During the day, we went down to Princess St. with Alex Salmond - SNP leader and candidate for the elections next May, who interviewed passing individuals of their plans for the holiday (a good campaign push.) It was crazy, but actually pretty fun. I got to interview a few MSP's (Members of Scottish Parliament) such as Bruce Crawford in the picture above. We handed out saltire flags and did our best to round people up. But I must admit, it was quite a stressful job especially since about 90% of the people walking by were in a hury and in no mood to talk. But hey, it got me out of the office.
The four interns with Alex Salmond.














Later that night we all went to a Ceilidh (pronounced- caely) a traditional Scottish Dance which ended up being a blast. Seriously, one of the funnest nights I've had here in Edinburgh. It was in a church up the Royal Mile and you know, it was pretty exciting walking past all those people, we got in free following the SNP posse...nice. You can't help but smile and want to start doing a jig the second you walk in the door. I love Scottish folk music! -bagpipes, fiddles etc... what a great time. I hate to make the comparisson to square dancing...cheeseball and lame... but that is kind of the idea where you have a partner (Rich and I were partners...and yes, we did plan the grey behind the blazers, we wanted to win the hottest couple award...rrright.) Basically guys are on one side and girls on the other and you take turns spining down each side...talk about dizzyness! Its was so much fun, my cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling the whole time.









We met some really cool people that night and it was fun because for three different dances almost the whole crowd was joined in dancing and those who knew the dances helped teach us all. It was a blast! I'm glad I got this cultural experience! Now I need to marry a Scotsman so I can have one at my wedding?? Oh, the wind that night was incredible, it blew so hard that I almost blew right over walking.