基尔亨城堡倒映在奥湖中，阿盖尔-比特郡，苏格兰 Kilchurn Castle reflected in Loch Awe, Argyll and Bute, Scotland (© Tom Mackie/plainpicture)

探秘苏格兰的遗产 Reflecting Scotland's heritage

圣安德鲁日

穿上格子裙，吹响风笛吧——今天是圣安德鲁节！苏格兰的国庆节是当地的公共假日，不过并不是每个人都会在这一天放假。圣安德鲁不仅是一名渔夫，还是希腊、巴巴多斯、罗马尼亚和乌克兰等其他几个国家的守护神。他既是耶稣的使徒之一，也是基督教的关键人物。尽管圣安德鲁从未踏足苏格兰，但他的影响在苏格兰的圣安德鲁十字旗中得以永存，据说这面旗象征着他殉难时所用的十字架。

圣安德鲁日的庆祝活动既有传统的民间音乐，也有热闹的社区集会（指包含唱歌、跳舞和讲故事的社交聚会）。食物在庆祝活动中也扮演着重要角色。在这一天，人们会品尝到丰盛的苏格兰主食，如哈吉斯、马铃薯泥、芜菁甘蓝泥、烟熏三文鱼和燕麦饼。这一天也是苏格兰冬季节日的热身日，是圣诞节、苏格兰除夕和彭斯之夜的前奏。为了纪念这个节日，我们将参观位于苏格兰西部的历史地标之一：基尔亨城堡。这座城堡坐落在奥湖湖畔，由科林·坎贝尔爵士建于15世纪中叶。虽然这座城堡如今已是一片废墟，但仍能让人一窥苏格兰的中世纪历史和强大的坎贝尔氏族的风采。

Saint Andrew's Day

Put on your tartan and let the bagpipes play—it's St. Andrew's Day! Scotland's national day is a public holiday there—though not everyone takes the day off. A fisherman by trade, St. Andrew—also the patron saint of several other countries including Greece, Barbados, Romania, and Ukraine—was one of the 12 apostles and a key figure in Christianity. Though he never set foot in Scotland, his influence is immortalized in the country's flag, a white saltire on a blue background, said to represent the cross on which he was martyred.

Festivities on St. Andrew's Day range from traditional folk music to high-spirited cèilidhs—social gatherings that involve music, dancing, and storytelling. Food plays a central role in celebrations, too. Expect hearty servings of Scottish staples like haggis, neeps and tatties (mashed rutabaga and potatoes), smoked salmon, and oatcakes. The day also serves as a warm-up to Scotland's winter festivals, leading into Christmas, Hogmanay, and Burns Night. To mark this day, we're visiting Kilchurn Castle, a historic landmark in the Scottish Highlands. Perched on the banks of Loch Awe, the fortress was built in the mid-15th century by Sir Colin Campbell. Though this castle now stands in ruins, it still offers a glimpse into the country's medieval past and the powerful Clan Campbell.

标签: 苏格兰, 城堡