When is Saint Andrew’s Day?
In 2026, Saint Andrew’s Day falls on Monday, November 30, 2026. It is classified here as a Romanian public holiday.
History of Saint Andrew’s Day
Saint Andrew is traditionally regarded as Romania’s patron saint, and his November 30 feast sits close to the beginning of Advent. Church tradition connects the apostle’s mission with the region around the Black Sea, giving the date a special place in Romanian religious memory.
The holiday became a statutory non-working day in 2012. It often meets National Day on December 1, creating a two-day period in which a religious feast and a civic anniversary stand side by side. For people named Andrei or Andreea, it is also an important name day.
Saint Andrew’s Day honours the apostle whom Romanian Orthodox tradition calls the First-Called, Apostle of the Romanians and Protector of Romania. Church tradition associates his preaching with Scythia Minor, the ancient region corresponding broadly to Dobruja; the cave near Ion Corvin has become a significant pilgrimage site, although devotional tradition and documentary historical proof should be distinguished. The Holy Synod elevated the feast’s national importance during the 1990s and early 2000s, and Law no. 147/2012 added November 30 to Article 139. Folklore on the eve includes protective uses of garlic and stories about wolves in some regions. Those customs are cultural traditions, not church requirements, and name-day hospitality for Andrei and Andreea is the more widespread social practice.
How Saint Andrew’s Day is observed
A nationwide non-working public holiday on November 30. Church services, name-day celebrations and holiday travel are common. Romania has no general rule moving this holiday to Monday when it falls at a weekend; any public-sector bridge day requires a separate government decision and recovered working time.
Traditions of Saint Andrew’s Day
Church services
Parishes honour Saint Andrew with liturgies and prayers at the opening of Advent. Romanian observance ranges from liturgy and pilgrimage to Andrei name days and regional Saint Andrew’s Eve folklore involving garlic and wolves.
Name-day greetings
People named Andrei, Andreea and related forms receive messages, visits and flowers. Romanian observance ranges from liturgy and pilgrimage to Andrei name days and regional Saint Andrew’s Eve folklore involving garlic and wolves.
Seasonal customs
Regional folklore around the eve of Saint Andrew is shared in families, schools and cultural programmes. Romanian observance ranges from liturgy and pilgrimage to Andrei name days and regional Saint Andrew’s Eve folklore involving garlic and wolves.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Romanian labour law and government guidance. Employer, school and local-service schedules can differ from the statutory public-holiday calendar.
History sources: Romanian Labour Inspectorate: Labour Code, Article 139, Romanian Legislative Portal: Labour Code, Romanian Patriarchate: Saint Andrew, Protector of Romania.
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