25
Jan
Burns Night
The secret to grabbing attention lies in using small subjects to express grand ideas, all laced with a hint of humour.
This approach has made the poetry of the esteemed Scottish bard Robert “Rabbie” Burns (1759-1796) both famous and beloved over the centuries. The themes he explored and the everyday language he employed in his verses continue to resonate with people today.
Burns was not only a distinguished poet and lyricist; he also composed original works and collected folk songs from across Scotland, frequently revising and adapting them for modern audiences. Alongside his poetic expressions in Scottish Gaelic, he crafted commentaries on political and social issues in standard English to reach a wider readership.
On the fifth anniversary of his death in 1801, nine of Rabbie’s friends gathered at his cottage in Alloway to honour his life and legacy. During this poignant gathering, they recited his famous eight-verse ode, "Address to a Haggis." After the reading, they enjoyed a meal of haggis accompanied by tatties and neeps, thus establishing the beloved tradition of Burns Supper.
In the 1800s, the celebration was formalised with the establishment of the first Burns clubs, shifting the date to 25th January to commemorate the poet’s birthday. Burns Night is now celebrated annually across Scotland on or around this date.
Today marks the 260th anniversary of his birth, an occasion commemorated with a Burns Supper featuring traditional Scottish cuisine, whisky, and the recitation of Burns’ poems. These gatherings are often formal events, rather than casual affairs among friends and family.
While most dinners do not require guests to don tartan attire, invitations to a Burns Supper that specify a black tie dress code typically call for a kilt paired with a Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket. Alternatively, tartan trews worn with a dinner jacket and cummerbund are also perfectly acceptable.
For ladies, adding a touch of tartan to evening wear can be achieved with a stole or sash. Alternatively, they can pick a tartan evening dress or skirt—both excellent options for a Burns Supper.
The main course of Burns Night showcases crispy haggis, a traditional sausage made from sheep's heart, liver, and lungs. Hosts serve it alongside neeps (mashed turnips or swedes) and tatties (mashed potatoes). Chefs often present the haggis with great fanfare during the recitation of the "Address to a Haggis," typically accompanied by the stirring sounds of bagpipes. Guests enhance the meal with generous helpings of whisky, wine, and Irn Bru.
A traditional Burns Night menu may feature a variety of dishes, including cock-a-leekie soup (a delightful chicken and leek concoction), scotch broth, Cullen skink (a creamy smoked haddock soup), clapshot, warm whisky sauce, Scotch pies, clootie pudding, cranachan (a luxurious blend of whipped cream, raspberries, and sweet oat wafers), bannocks (bread cooked on a griddle), Dundee cake and tipsy laird trifle.
Endless toasts highlight the evening, ranging from the classic "toast to the haggis" to the humorous address “to the lassies.” The ladies should respond with witty remarks, known as "the reply to the toast to the lassies."
Burns Night is far more than just an opportunity for crafty Scots to indulge in traditional fare; it celebrates poetry and music. Throughout the evening, songs and poems penned by Robert Burns fill the air.
As the splendid evening comes to an end, guests gather to sing “Auld Lang Syne.” Few forget or misremember the lyrics to this iconic Scottish song, regardless of how many drinks they have enjoyed.
In 2009, Robert Burns was voted the greatest Scot by the Scottish public in a poll conducted by the Scottish television channel STV.
Mòran taing! (Gaelic for “Many thanks!”)
