Our History
Preserving Scottish Traditions, Nurturing Community, Touching Lives.
Founded in 1924, the St. Andrew Society of São Paulo is a dedicated guardian of Scottish heritage and traditions in Brazil.
While preserving the rich legacy of Scotland, the society also embodies philanthropy, reaching out to support both local causes.
With its vibrant cultural events and philanthropic spirit, it weaves a thread of Scottish heritage into the diverse tapestry of São Paulo's community.
William J Smith, known as “Juta” Smith, also a Founding Member, instigated the St Paul`s School competition, a literary project then based on the works of Sir Walter Scott, later in 1939 to include any subject to do with Scotland. “Juta” also introduced an At Home which was the precursor to the Haggis Alley Glee Club and the Ladies Night, later called the Caledonian Ball.
Traditions
On 11 February 1924, 19 Scots met in a house on Avenida Paulista to form the St Andrew Society of the State of São Paulo, and records for that year show that 59 Scots showed interest in Scottish activities. These men are our honoured Founding Members, many of them accountants, engineers or managers in the jute, textile, engineering, production, banking industries and the railways. Although there had been three previous Banquets to celebrate St Andrew's Day, the first official annual Banquet was held in 1924, at the Terminus Hotel, Rua Brigadeiro Tobias, with the first President Thomas Ballantine Muir in the chair.
The Start
In the beginning only male Scots could join the Society as full members, but as time went on and the British community changed, it was decided to allow lady members, and then in 1995, associate members, who could be of any nationality, to join. The President must be Scottish born, or descended from Scottish forebears.
In 2010 Society was proud to to be lead by their first female President, Christiana Tess.
Members
In 1934 the FIRST Quaich golf competition was held and, with one exception, has been played each year ever since, now the longest running sports competition in the British community. Each year the winner fills the silver Quaich with a bottle of whisky and the cup is then traditionally passed around for players and guests to sample. The Mackenzie Trophy for Lady Scots golfers was first played in 1991.
The Simpson Nisbet Cup, the Munro Cup and from 2023 the Tri-nations Cup bring together other International communities for regular friendly Golf competitions.
Sports
Social events include the St Andrew's Happy hourt, the Burns Supper, which was first held in January 1954 with 29 Scots men present, and the Ladies Night for many years held in Mappins Stores becoming the Caledonian Ball.
which brought together the International communities for a sporting competition and the Simpson Nisbet Cup for sports played against the English.
Evening entertainment includs a dancing group, ceilidhs, the Burns Supper, which was first held in January 1954 with 29 Scots men present, and the Ladies Night for many years held in Mappins Stores becoming the Caledonian Ball.
Social Events
