St Andrew's Day - everything you need to know about Scotland's Patron Saint

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.A tot dressed up as Nicola Sturgeon is the star of a  hysterical Christmas play about Santa and lockdown that’s going down a storm.One of the wee ones at the Rainbow Nursery, in Paisley,  dresses up just like the First Minister.Three-year-old Ella boldly announces: “You’ve been telt!”Ella wears a single colour royal blue outfit normally used by the kids for dressing up as Mary Poppins.T’was the Night Before

flu has been confirmed in a flock of birds from a farm on a Scottish island. The Scottish Government said the remaining birds at the premises on Sanday in Orkney have been humanely culled and a six-mile (10km) temporary control zone has been set up around the infected premises.

Andrea McLean was in floods of tears as she hosted her last ever episode of Loose Women. The Scots TV presenter decided to bring her 13-year stint on the show to an end after the coronavirus pandemic made her reassess her life.

coronavirus strain has spread to Scotland, according to the latest data from the Scottish Government. Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that nine cases of the new Covid variant have been identified in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board region.

parents still have time to make Christmas 2020 extra special for their little ones. Live Entertainment company, Underbelly have teamed up with Mr and Mrs Claus to bring the magic of Santa ’s Official Grotto online this year.

Derek McInnes has confirmed Andrew Considine’s contract extension is close to being fast-tracked.

police - because it is not “essential travel”. The Scout Scotland Santa Run in Stewarton, which has been running for decades, was halted after officers said the sleigh ride through the town breached lockdown rules.

post-lockdown Scotland needs to provide proper funding to battle a potential new rise in drug deaths.Epidemiologist Dr Andrew McAuley says it is inevitable that annual drug death statistics to be published next week will show a further rise in Scotland’s death rate – which is the worst in the world and soared by 27 per cent last year.He warned that post-Covid austerity, coupled with massive unemployment, will spark a wave of social problems that will drive many people to drug use.McAuley, of

will be given jabs at 23 sites across Scotland under the initial phase of a national programme which will eventually see millions of people protected against coronavirus. Among those who will be first in line for the vaccine is Andrew Mencnarowski, a senior staff nurse at the Western General in Edinburgh.

welcome breakthrough, it will take several months at least for the vaccination to be rolled out across all age groups.Nicola Sturgeon met with the vaccinators who will be the very first to receive the jab on December 8. Care home residents and other health workers are next in line.

Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal tour which today kicked off in Scotland during lockdown. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Edinburgh Waverley station on Monday morning as they began their whistle-stop tour of the UK, aimed to thank frontline workers of the pandemic.

EXCLUSIVE: Filming has wrapped in Scotland on under-the-radar UK horror The Origin, starring Chuku Modu (The 100, The Good Doctor), Kit Young (star of Netflix’s upcoming fantasy series Shadow And Bone), Iola Evans (The 100), newcomer Safia Oakley-Green, Arno Lüning and Luna Mwezi (Platzspittzbaby).

Christmas celebrations with lights, markets and Santa all lighting up the country for the month of December. The pinnacle of winter, it's hard to imagine a time when Scotland didn't make a huge effort with its Christmas celebrations.

Andrea McLean has thanked fans for their support after the Loose Women star announced her exit from the show. The 51-year-old journalist struggled to fight back the tears when she made the bombshell announcement to her fellow panel members of yesterday’s show.

Santa is facing restrictions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, despite recently being cleared as a key worker by Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. New research by smart home security firm, SimpliSafe, has revealed that kids across Scotland are already planning ways to keep them and their families Covid-19 safe during his visit this Christmas.

Andrea McLean has announced her departure from Loose Women after 13 years of hosting the daytime ITV show. The 51-year-old Scots host got emotional as she set out her intentions to the leave the show during the festive period.

festive tradition is the latest in line to fall victim to strict public health rules which already banned Halloween guising and bonfire night gatherings. The Scottish Government has not finalised the rules but carol singing is being reviewed along with other traditions, including popular Santa's grottos for children.Nicola Sturgeon said work is under way shortly after a Boris Johnson spokesman said permission was granted in England.

Nicola Sturgeon has urged Scots to perform an “act of kindness” to mark today’s St Andrew’s Day celebrations. The First Minister paid tribute to those making “enormous personal sacrifices” amid the coronavirus pandemic in an address to the nation earlier today.