Burns supper
Burns Night | |
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tatties at Dundee Burns Club 's 160th annual Burns supper, on 25 January 2020 | |
Observed by | Scotland; Scots people |
Date | 25 January (traditional) |
Frequency | Annual |
Part of a series on the |
Culture of Scotland |
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People |
Folklore |
Cuisine |
Religion |
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A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet
History
The first supper was held in memoriam at Burns Cottage in Ayrshire by Burns's friends, on 21 July 1801, the fifth anniversary of his death;[4] it has been a regular occurrence ever since. The first still extant Burns Club was founded in Greenock in 1801 by merchants who were born in Ayrshire, some of whom had known Burns. They held the first Burns supper on what they thought was his birthday, 29 January 1802, but in 1803, they discovered the Ayr parish records that noted his date of birth was actually 25 January 1759.[5] Since then, suppers have been held on or about 25 January.
The
Burns suppers may be formal or informal. Both typically include
Standard order
Piping in guests
A
Host's welcoming speech
The host says a few words, welcoming everyone to the supper and perhaps stating the reason for it.[11]
In some regions, particularly the west coast of Scotland and Outer Hebrides, "O Flower of Scotland" is sung immediately preceding the Selkirk Grace.
All the guests are then seated and
Selkirk Grace
- Some hae meat an canna eat,
- And some wad eat that want it;
- But we hae meat, and we can eat,
- And sae the Lord be thankit.[11]
Soup course
The supper starts with the soup course. Normally a Scottish soup, such as Scotch broth, potato soup, cullen skink, or cock-a-leekie, is served.
Haggis
Piping in the haggis
Everyone stands as the
"Address to a Haggis"
Original text | Idiomatic translation[17] |
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, |
Nice seeing your honest, chubby face, |
The groaning trencher there ye fill, |
The groaning platter there you fill, |
His knife see rustic Labour dicht, |
His knife see rustic Labour sharpen, |
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: |
Then, spoon for spoon, they stretch and strive: |
Is there that o're his French ragout |
Is there one, that over his French ragout, |
Poor devil! see him ower his trash, |
Poor devil! See him over his trash, |
But mark the Rustic, haggis fed, |
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed, |
Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care, |
You Pow'rs, that make mankind your care, |
At the line His knife see rustic Labour dicht, the speaker normally draws and sharpens a knife. At the line An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, he plunges it into the haggis and cuts it open from end to end. When done properly, the "ceremony" is a highlight of the evening.
Main course
At the end of the poem, a whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis, and the company will sit down to the meal. The haggis is traditionally served with
Other courses
A dessert course, cheese courses,
.Toasts
When the meal reaches the coffee stage, various speeches and toasts are given.
Immortal memory
The main speaker gives a speech remembering some aspect of Burns's life or poetry. It may be either light-hearted or serious, and may include the recitation of a poem or a song by Burns. A toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns then follows.[12]
Address to the Lassies
This was originally a short speech given by a male guest in thanks to the women who had prepared the meal. However, it is now much more wide-ranging and generally covers the male speaker's view on women. It is normally amusing and not offensive, particularly since it will be followed by a reply from the "lassies" concerned. The men drink a toast to the women's health.
Reply to the Laddies
This is occasionally (and humorously) called the "Toast to the Laddies". Like the previous toast, it is generally now quite wide-ranging. A female guest will give her views on men and reply to any specific points raised by the previous speaker. Like the previous speech, it should be amusing but not offensive. Quite often, the speakers giving this toast and the previous one will collaborate so that the two toasts complement each other.
Works by Burns
After the speeches there may be singing of songs by Burns (such as "Ae Fond Kiss", "Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation", and "A Man's A Man for A' That") and more poetry (such as "To a Mouse", "To a Louse", "Tam o' Shanter", "The Twa Dogs", and "Holy Willie's Prayer").
That may be done by the individual guests or by invited experts, and it goes on for as long as the guests wish. It may include other works by poets influenced by Burns, particularly poets writing in Scots. Foreign guests may also be invited to sing or say works from their land.
Closing
Finally, the host will call on one of the guests to give the vote of thanks. Then, everyone is asked to stand, join hands, and sing "Auld Lang Syne" to bring the evening to an end.
See also
- Burns' Day storm
- List of dining events
- Scottish cuisine
References
- ^ "Oidhche na Taigeise". Am Faclair Beag. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ "Interactive Map of Burns Suppers". www.burnsc21.glasgow.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Global appeal of the Bard endures with 2,500 Burns Suppers plotted on world map". www.scotsman.com. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ Scotland, National Trust for (26 January 2021). "The first Burns Supper". National Trust for Scotland. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Congratulation Greenock Burns Club". The Robert Burns World Federation Limited. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
- ^ TV, Scottish Parliament, Celebrating Burns and the Scots Language, retrieved 26 January 2021
- ^ "Burns Night goes virtual: 'It might be even bigger this year'". the Guardian. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Nicola Sturgeon thanks virtual Burns supper organisers for allowing Scots to mark Burns Night in line with restrictions". www.scotsman.com. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "The best laid (online) schemes: Burns Night 2021 goes digital". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "BBC - Robert Burns - Burns Night - Running Order". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ a b c "BBC - Robert Burns - Burns Night - Running Order". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ a b c "About: Celebrating Burns Night". VisitScotland. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ^ "Haggis recipe". BBC Food. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Vegetarian Haggis". BBC Good Food. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "How to cook the perfect vegetarian haggis". the Guardian. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ Archie Cairns – Book 1 Pipe Music 1995
- ^ Burns, Robert. Address to a Haggis.