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A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems including "Auld Lang Syne," which is generally sung as a folk song at Hogmanay and other New Year celebrations around the world. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, January 25, sometimes known as Burns Night, although they may in principle be held at any time of the year. The Chinese poem Quatrain on Heavenly Mountain by Emperor Gaozong (Song Dynasty) // Poetry (from the Greek , poiesis, making or creating) is a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible meaning. ...
Robert Burns, foremost Scottish poet Robert Burns (January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) was a poet and a lyricist. ...
Scots refers to the Anglic varieties spoken in parts of Scotland. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and for the common people. ...
Hogmanay (pronounced — with the main stress on the last syllable - hog-muh-NAY) is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year (Gregorian calendar) in the Scottish manner. ...
For other uses, see New Year (disambiguation). ...
January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Burns suppers are most common in Scotland, but they occur wherever there are Burns clubs, Scottish Societies, expatriate Scots, or lovers of Burns' poetry. Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification - by Kenneth I...
The first suppers were held in Ayrshire at the end of the 18th century by his friends on the anniversary of his death, July 21, In Memoriam and, although the date has changed to the 25th of January since then, they have been a regular occurrence ever since. Ayrshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Àir in Scottish Gaelic) is a region of south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. ...
(17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...
July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. ...
They may be formal or informal but they should always be entertaining. The only items which the informal suppers have in common are haggis, Scotch whisky and perhaps a poem or two. Formal dinners given by organisations such as the Freemasons often do not allow ladies to be present. However whether they are single sex or not, the formal suppers follow a standard format which is as follows. an uncooked small haggis content of a haggis Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish. ...
An independent bottling of Royal Brackla Single Malt Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland. ...
American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ...
Order of the supper
Start of the evening Guests gather and mix as in any informal party.
Host's welcoming speech The host says a few words welcoming everyone to the supper and perhaps stating the reason for it. The event is declared open.
Everyone is seated at the table(s) and grace is said, usually using the Selkirk Grace: To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...
The Selkirk Grace
- Some hae meat and canna eat,
- And some wad eat that want it;
- But we hae meat, and we can eat,
- Sae let the Lord be thankit.
The supper then starts with the soup course. Normally a Scots soup such as Scotch Broth, Potato Soup or Cock-a-Leekie is served. Scotch broth is a filling soup, originating in Scotland but now obtainable world wide. ...
Cock-a-leekie soup is a Scottish soup dish of leeks, potatoes, and chicken stock. ...
Entrance of the haggis Everyone stands as the main course is brought in. This is always a haggis on a large dish. It is brought in by the cook, generally while a piper plays bagpipes and leads the way to the host's table, where the haggis is laid down. He might play 'A man's a man for aw that'. The host, or perhaps a guest with a talent, then recites the Address To a Haggis an uncooked small haggis content of a haggis Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish. ...
| Address To a Haggis | | | | Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace
As lang's my arm.
Download high resolution version (464x808, 42 KB)Dr Bob Purdie addressing the haggis during Burns supper, St Columbas United Reformed Church, Oxford, 2004-01-24. ...
Download high resolution version (464x808, 42 KB)Dr Bob Purdie addressing the haggis during Burns supper, St Columbas United Reformed Church, Oxford, 2004-01-24. ...
| (sonsie = cheeky)
(aboon = above) | | The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
|
(hurdies = hips)
| | His knife see rustic Labour dicht,
An' cut you up wi' ready slicht,
Trenching your gushing entrails bricht,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sicht,
Warm-reekin, rich!
| (dicht = wipe)
(slicht = skill)
(reeking = steaming) | | Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve,
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
"Bethankit" hums.
|
(deil = devil)
(swall'd=swollen, kytes = bellies,
belyve = soon)
(rive = tear, ie burst)
| | Is there that o're his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi' perfect scunner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?
|
(olio = olive oil, staw = make sick)
| | Poor devil! see him ower his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro' bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!
|
(nieve = fist, nit = louse's egg, ie. tiny)
| | But mark the Rustic, haggis fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his wallie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whistle;
An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned,
Like taps o' thristle.
|
(wallie = mighty, nieve = fist)
(sned = cut off)
| | Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer,
Gie her a haggis! |
(skinkin ware = watery soup)
(jaups = slops about, luggies = two-handled
continental bowls)
| If the poem is being recited with any sense of drama or humour at all, then at the line His knife see rustic Labour dicht the speaker will normally raise a knife, sharpening it menacingly, and at the line An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, plunges it into the haggis and cuts it open from end to end. When done properly this "ceremony" is a highlight of the evening.
Supper At the end of the poem, a whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis. Then the company will sit and enjoy the meal. The main course is, of course, haggis, and is traditionally served with mashed potatoes (tatties) and mashed neeps (known in England as swede or in North America as rutabaga or turnip). A dessert course, cheese courses, coffee, etc. may also be part of the meal. The courses normally use traditional Scottish recipes. For instance dessert may be cranachan or Tipsy Laird (sherry trifle) followed by oatcakes and cheese, all washed down with liberal tots of the "water of life" (uisge beatha) – Scotch whisky. Binomial name Solanum tuberosum L. The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a perennial plant of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, commonly grown for its starchy tuber. ...
Binomial name Brassica napobrassica Mill. ...
Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert. ...
When the meal reaches the coffee stage various speeches and toasts are given. In order the core speeches and toasts are as follows.
Loyal toast The host proposes a toast to the health of the monarch (or to the leader of the country if it is not a monarchy). Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ...
Immortal memory One of the guests gives a short speech, remembering some aspect of Burns' life or poetry. This may be light-hearted or intensely serious. The speaker should always prepare a speech with his audience in mind, since above all, the Burns' supper should be entertaining.
Everyone drinks a toast to Robert Burns.
Appreciation The host will normally say a few words thanking the previous speaker for his speech and perhaps commenting on some of the points raised.
Toast to the lassies This was originally a short speech given by a male guest in thanks to those women who had prepared the meal. However nowadays it is much more wide ranging, and generally covers the male speaker's view on women. It is normally amusing but should never be offensive, particularly bearing in mind that it will be followed by a reply from the "Lassies" concerned.
The men drink a toast to the women's health.
Reply to the toast to the lassies This is occasionally (and humorously) called the 'Toast to the Laddies', and like the previous toast it is generally quite wide ranging nowadays. In it a female guest will give her views on men and reply to any specific points raised by the previous speaker. Like the previous speech this 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.
The women drink a toast to the men's health.
Other toasts and speeches These may follow if desired. It is not unusual to toast the locality or nation in which the supper is being held. It is also quite common to propose a toast to Scotland but there is no fixed list of subjects, so this is very dependent on circumstances.
Works by Burns After the speeches, there may be singing of songs by Burns -- Ae Fond Kiss, Parcel O' Rogues, A Man's a Man, etc -- and more poetry -- To a Mouse, To a Louse, Tam O' Shanter, The Twa Dugs, Holy Willie's Prayer, etc. This may be done by the individual guests or by invited experts. It goes on for as long as the guests wish and may include other works by poets influenced by Burns, particularly poets writing in Scots. The only rule is to give the audience what they want. HI TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO IS READING THIS. HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!!! To A Mouse is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1785, and was included in the Kilmarnock Volume. ...
In 1786, Robert Burns authored the poem To a Louse, On Seeing One on a Ladys Bonnet at Church. The theme of To a Louse could be interpreted to be: If one could see his or herself as others do, then one would realize his or her faults, and...
Dancing There may occasionally be Scottish country dancing, if the venue allows, but this is not a normal part of a Burns supper.
Closing Finally the host will wind things up, calling on one of the guests to give the vote of thanks, after which everyone is asked to stand, join hands, and sing Auld Lang Syne which brings the evening to an end. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
External links - Burns Night Supper Information at About Aberdeen
- Listen to Burns's Address to a Haggis
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