In spite of Covid 19, a number of Scottish events are going ahead in NZ over the Summer. Check the Scots in Spirit Events Calendar at scotsinspirit.com/pages/events-c… to find one near you - we'd love to see you there.

Halloween tomorrow - and most of us think of it as American. But - the word comes from a Scottish shortening of All Hallows Eve, with roots in the Gaelic festival of Samhain. The National Trust for Scotland explains 6 Scottish Halloween customs, see bit.ly/3mCPM7g

Get in quick for tickets to the Scottish Clans Association Auckland Dinner in Parnell next Sat (28 Nov) which doubles as a celebration of St Andrew's Day (30 Nov). Enjoy music, dancers, 4 course meal - including haggis of course! More details at facebook.com/events/6582789…

Try one of our tartan facemasks - help stop the virus and show your Scottish side at the same time! 5 tartans, 3 sizes, something for everyone. Order online at scotsinspirit.com/collections/no…

St Andrew's Day (Scotland's National Day) is on 30 November - next Mon! Easier to celebrate it over this weekend so try a get-together with friends and food (and maybe a dram of whisky) to enjoy your Scottish heritage. More info at familysearch.org/blog/en/st-and…

St Andrew's Day today - we celebrated a little early on Saturday at the Auckland Clans Association Dinner - Graham carried a sword when the Haggis was piped in. All the food was delicious, and a very entertaining Address to the Haggis.

A new event we've just noted is for the lucky folk in New Plymouth - a Summer Ceilidh with live music by Fingal tomorrow evening, Friday, 4 December. Fundraising for a very good cause, the City of New Plymouth Caledonian Pipe Band. Attached poster gives details.

These Xmas parades will feature NorthCal Pipe Band - dates/start times as follows: Hikurangi Sat 5 Dec midday start; Kerikeri Sat 12 Dec midday start; Kaeo Sun 13 Dec midday start; Ruakaka Sat 19 Dec 10am start; Waipu Thu 24 Dec 7pm start. Floats & Santa PLUS bagpipes!

If you want to keep the sun off - at the beach or at one of the Northland Xmas parades, featuring NorthCal Pipe Band - the Band has just the thing! Try one of their hats, details in the poster below.

Scots in Spirit wishes you a festive season full of the things you enjoy - fun at the beach, relaxing under a shady tree, or whatever (lucky us here in NZ). Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year) to all!

Robert Burns birthday coming up on 25 Jan - celebrate it at the Devonport Burns Night on the 23rd, details at tinyurl.com/yynwso6z - or throw your own Burns Supper on a date you choose, our 2020 blog at scotsinspirit.com/blogs/news/bur… has plenty of ideas to get you started!

Scots in Spirit will be at the Turakina Highland Games next Saturday (30 Jan) - just a week to go! Full details at turakinahighlandgames.co.nz/about/, something for everyone so come along and enjoy.

Scots in Spirit will be at the Paeroa Highland Games this Saturday 13 Feb, we'd love to see you there. A full 12 hours of entertainment for all starting 9am, see all the details, get tickets etc at eventbrite.co.nz/e/2021-paeroa-…

Lovely day at the Paeroa Highland Games last Saturday. congrats to the organisers. We were run off our feet, but really enjoyed meeting all who visited our stand -including the Steampunkers with their tartan creations!

Get set for "The Nationals" - NZ Pipe Band Championships - in Hastings and Napier, Fri & Sat, 19-20 March. Piping, drumming, mace flourishing, massed bands - and the Scots in Spirit stand! - at the Hastings Mitre 19 Sports Park, plus the Street March in the Napier CBD on Friday.

We are revitalising our website to give it a fresher look- lots of work, and not yet complete. Looking forward to feedback from our users, especially on things that aren't quite working as they should!

The finest Scottish-made Kilts at a reasonable price - that is what you get from us. You can also order from our huge selection of quality made-to-measure Jackets and Waistcoats, Shirts, Kilt - all your Scottish apparel requirements, with options to suit all budgets.

Bagpipers/drummers check out our new range of well-priced Practical Rain Capes to keep you dry this winter - scotsinspirit.com/collections/in…

Nollaig chridheil agus bliadhna mhath ur! (Merry Christmas & Happy New Year), from our Clan to yours. Still got a few gits to buy? Check Scots in Spirit website for ideas (scotsinspirit.com) - call to check if its in stock.

Tartans and Tweeds 4 sale by the metre, perfect for clothes & soft furnishings (think cushions, throws, upholstery, curtains...). Tartans aren't just for the Scots, we have Welsh and Irish tartans too & vibrant dance tartans. See our full fabric range at scotsinspirit.com/collections/fa…