A cup of kindness

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25
Jan

Burns Night

The recipe: use small subjects to express big ideas and add some humour.

This is exactly what makes poetry of great Scottish bard Robert “Rabbie” Burns (1759-1796) famous and cherished after centuries: the themes and language of everyday life he used in his poems are still important to the people.

 

Robert Burns' portrait by Alexander Nasmyth (1787). Credit: Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Robert Burns' portrait by Alexander Nasmyth (1787). Credit: Scottish National Portrait Gallery

 

The noted Scottish poet and lyricist made original compositions as well as collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. Along with purely poetic emotions and visions in the Scottish Gaelic, Robert Burns wrote the blunt commentaries about political and civil matters in standard English to make himself heard by a wider audience.

 

The piper and drummers open the Burns Night celebration. Credit: Simon Hanna
The piper and drummers open the Burns Night celebration. Credit: Simon Hanna

 

In 1801, on the fifth anniversary of his death, Rabbie’s nine friends gathered at Burns cottage, Alloway to remember him and his works. During the event, they recited Burns' well-known eight-verse ode “Address to a Haggis”. After reading the poem they sat down to a meal of haggis with tatties and neeps, thereby creating the custom of Burns Supper.

 

The Burns Night main course. Credit: Shutterstock/The Myanmar Times
The Burns Night main course. Credit: Shutterstock/The Myanmar Times

 

In the 1800s, when the first Burns clubs were established, the tradition was moved on 25th January, to mark the poet’s birth date. Burns Night is annually celebrated in Scotland on or around 25th January ever since.

 

A table laid for Burns Supper in London's Vinopolis. Credit: Shutterstock/The Myanmar Times
A table laid for Burns Supper in London's Vinopolis. Credit: Shutterstock/The Myanmar Times

 

Today is the 260th anniversary of his birthday. This day is always celebrated with Burns Supper, which means eating Scottish food, drinking whisky and reading Burns’ poems. Frequently, these are formal events rather than casual celebrations amongst friends and family members.

 

Dancing Ceilidh on Burns Night in Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar. Credit: The Inn on the Mile/The Myanmar Times
Dancing Ceilidh on Burns Night in Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar. Credit: The Inn on the Mile/The Myanmar Times

 

Most dinners do not require the guests to wear tartan but if an invitation on Burns Supper has a black tie dress code, kilt paired up with a Bonnie Prince Charlie Jacket would meet host's all expectations. Another option is to wear tartan trews with a dinner jacket and cummerbund, which would be perfectly acceptable as well.

 

Burns Night in Chicago, Illinois. Credit: Laterlife
Burns Night in Chicago, Illinois. Credit: Later life

 

Ladies either add a touch of tartan to the evening dress with a stole/sash or put on a tartan evening dress or skirt. Both are ideal for Burns Suppers.

 

Haggis, neeps, tatties and whisky. Credit: The Evening Standard
Haggis, neeps, tatties and whisky. Credit: The Evening Standard

 

The Burns Night main course consists of crispy haggis (sausage made from sheep's heart, liver and lungs) with neeps (mashed turnips or swedes) and tatties (mashed potatoes). Usually, the haggis is brought in when “Address to a Haggis” is recited, or when the bagpipes are at full blast. Food is helped with plenty of whisky, wine and Irn Bru.

 

Piping in the haggis. Credit: Simon Hanna
Piping in the haggis. Credit: Simon Hanna

 

A traditional Burns Night menu can also include cock-a-leekie soup (chicken and leek soup), scotch broth, Cullen skink (smoked haddock soup), clapshot, warm whisky sauce, Scotch pies, clootie pudding, cranachan (whipped cream mixed with raspberries and bits of sweet oat wafers), bannocks (bread cooked on a griddle), Dundee cake and tipsy laird trifle.

 

Cock-a-leekie soup. Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Cock-a-leekie soup. Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

 

The endless toasts – from the traditional "toast to the haggis" to a humorous address "to the lassies" – are made, and the ladies are supposed to come up with a witty response by "the reply to the toast to the lassies".

 

A Simply Whisky Burns Night celebration in London's Vinopolis. Credit: Simon Hanna
A Simply Whisky Burns Night celebration in London's Vinopolis. Credit: Simon Hanna

 

Definitely, Burns Night is not just a good excuse for some crafty Scots to get drunk and stuffed with the traditional Scottish food; ‘tis a night of poetry and music, too. Therefore, songs and poems by Robert Burns fill the night air during the Supper.

 

Burns Night 2019. Credit: Newcastle Chronicle
Burns Night in 2019. Credit: Newcastle Chronicle

 

At the end of the splendid night, the guests sing “Auld Lang Syne”; hardly someone forgets or messes up the lyrics of this most famous Scottish song – despite the amount of the beverage they have had.

 

Dundee cake. Credit: Woman & Home magazine
Dundee cake. Credit: Woman & Home magazine

 

In 2009 the national poet of Scotland, Robert Burns was chosen as the greatest Scot by the Scottish public in a vote run by Scottish television channel STV.

 

Tipsy laird trifle. Credit: The Spruce Eats
Tipsy Laird trifle. Credit: The Spruce Eats

 

Mòran taing! (Gaelic for “Many thanks!”)

 

Cranachan. Credit: Drunk Chef
Cranachan. Credit: Drunk Chef

 

The story of Robert Burns