That special time of year is upon us once again. You know the one, it falls on November 30 and celebrates something incredibly important to our culture.

No, not National Computer Security Day. Or the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s Thriller being released.

We’re talking about St Andrew’s Day.

While Scots are technically supposed to celebrate the life of their patron saint, the nationalist rigour of the occasion nowhere near compares to America’s Independence Day or Ireland’s St Patrick’s Day.

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Today it was also largely omitted from the front pages of Scotland’s national newspapers.

Well, save for a few.

Saint Andrew, also known as Andrew the Apostle if you prefer your monikers to be alliterative, was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus and the brother of St Peter.

He and his brother were fishermen and Andrew was said to have brought the first foreigners to meet Jesus when he shamed a large crowd of people into sharing their food with the people beside them.

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Andrew was selected as the patron saint of Scotland around the time of the Picts and was crucified by the Romans on an X-shaped cross which was used as the basis for the saltire flag.

He is also the patron saint of Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, San Andres Island, Barbados, fishing and singers.

Andrew is also the patron saint of the Order of the Thistle, one of the highest ranks of chivalry in the world.

Not very much, to put it bluntly.

While St Andrew’s Day has existed for hundreds of years, in recent times have seen it become a fairly low-key celebration.

Even Scotland’s political analysts seem a little listless on the subject.

Official events are held in major Scottish cities, with traditional ceilidhs and national food, but it has not taken off in the same way that St Patrick’s Day has become an enormous party in Ireland.

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In 2006, the Scottish Government designated the day as an official bank holiday but it is at an employer’s discretion whether or not workers get the day off.

It has also traditionally been a day off for students at St Andrews University.

St Patrick’s Day in Ireland vs St Andrew’s Day in Scotland (probably). Brian Lawless PA Archive/PA Images

While Scots half-heartedly wave the saltire flag, politicians are taking up the mantle.

Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May have recorded video messages wishing people across Scotland and the UK a happy St Andrew’s Day.

The First Minister asked Scots to look after friends and neighbours and help make the day a “truly special” one.

In the video message Sturgeon goes on to say: “We can make St Andrew’s Day a truly special day – one that highlights the very best aspects of Scotland.”

Scots seems to be taking the latter part very literally.

Anyone opening their web browsers today will be greeted with a Scottish-themed Google doodle – the pillar of all international celebrations.

Since 2009 the internet giant has produced doodles celebrating November 30, bar one. This year the animated graphic features scenes from Cuillin Hills, Ben Nevis, Broch of Mousa, Isle of Skye, and Loch Lomond.

All featuring a discreetly-placed saltire.

Meanwhile, IRL (in real life) St Andrew’s societies around the globe, particularly in the US and Australia, will celebrate their nation’s Scottish heritage with ceilidhs and banquets.

November 30 is celebrated as independence day in Barbados.

This year would have seen the 50th annual Independence Day parade alongside the reveal of a new national monument but in sticking with Scottish tradition, the Caribbean island cancelled festivities due to rain.

That’s not to say other nations aren’t celebrating in their own way.

In parts of eastern and central Europe, including Romania, Russia, Austria, Germany and Poland, November 30 is associated with single girls’ future husbands.

In Romania, it is customary for young women to put 41 grains of wheat beneath their pillow before they go to sleep and if they dream someone is coming to steal their grains it means that they are going to get married next year.

Other traditions involve pouring wax through a keyhole into cold water – the resulting shape determines a girl’s future husband’s profession.

How men determine their future remains unclear.