Andrew the Apostle commonly referred to as a St Andrew's cross, although its designer, William Porcher Miles, said he changed it from an upright cross to a saltire so that it would not be a religious symbol but merely a heraldic device. The Alabama flag also shows that device. The feast of Andrew is observed on 30 November in both the Eastern and Western churches, and is the national day of Scotland. In the traditional liturgical books of the Catholic Church, the feast of Saint Andrew is the first feast day in the Proper of Saints. Andrew the Apostle Andrew the Apostle (;
The Way of St Andrews a raid in Northumbria in the north of England. When he found himself surrounded by the much larger pursuing army, that night he prayed, and St Andrew appeared before him and promised him victory. The following day, a huge white cross appeared in the blue sky and this inspired Angus's army to win a great victory. The Flag of Scotland, a white X on a blue background, dates from this event. From then on St Andrew increasingly became accepted as the patron saint of Scotland. About a century later, under rather similar circumstances, St James rose to become the patron