Description
Secondary Schools Assemblies Resource Book
THROUGH THE YEAR
ST ANDREWS DAY
By Stuart Kerner
Suitable for Whole School
Aim
To reflect on the importance of trusting our lives to God.
Preparation and materials
• Four volunteers, two apples and two peelers.
Assembly
1. Ask the students if anyone can name the patron saints of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (St George, St Andrew, St David and St Patrick).
2. Say that 30 November is St Andrew’s Day. St Andrew, like his brother Peter, was originally a fisherman. He became one of the first disciples of Jesus, and, according to tradition, went on to spread the gospel in Syria, Turkey, Russia and Greece. Legend has it that he was eventually crucified on an X-shaped cross.
3. On St Andrew’s Day people of Scottish origins all over the world celebrate their heritage. Although St Andrew’s Day celebrations used to be very popular in Scotland itself, this is no longer the case. In a recent survey, one in four Scottish people didn’t even know the date of St Andrew’s Day!
4. In some places, St Andrew’s Day was traditionally a day for young girls to try to find out about their future husbands. By way of demonstration, ask for two volunteers and tell them to remove their left shoes. This will, no doubt, create some amusement. Say that one Scottish legend has it that on St Andrew’s Day a girl wishing to marry should throw a shoe over her shoulder towards a doorway. If
the toe of the shoe pointed in the direction of the exit, then she would marry and leave her parents’ house within a year...
Taken from Secondary Schools Assemblies Resources Book edited by Stuart Kerner
Published by SPCK
THROUGH THE YEAR
ST ANDREWS DAY
By Stuart Kerner
Suitable for Whole School
Aim
To reflect on the importance of trusting our lives to God.
Preparation and materials
• Four volunteers, two apples and two peelers.
Assembly
1. Ask the students if anyone can name the patron saints of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (St George, St Andrew, St David and St Patrick).
2. Say that 30 November is St Andrew’s Day. St Andrew, like his brother Peter, was originally a fisherman. He became one of the first disciples of Jesus, and, according to tradition, went on to spread the gospel in Syria, Turkey, Russia and Greece. Legend has it that he was eventually crucified on an X-shaped cross.
3. On St Andrew’s Day people of Scottish origins all over the world celebrate their heritage. Although St Andrew’s Day celebrations used to be very popular in Scotland itself, this is no longer the case. In a recent survey, one in four Scottish people didn’t even know the date of St Andrew’s Day!
4. In some places, St Andrew’s Day was traditionally a day for young girls to try to find out about their future husbands. By way of demonstration, ask for two volunteers and tell them to remove their left shoes. This will, no doubt, create some amusement. Say that one Scottish legend has it that on St Andrew’s Day a girl wishing to marry should throw a shoe over her shoulder towards a doorway. If
the toe of the shoe pointed in the direction of the exit, then she would marry and leave her parents’ house within a year...
Taken from Secondary Schools Assemblies Resources Book edited by Stuart Kerner
Published by SPCK
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