Burns’ Night

Tonight is Burns Night – a celebration of the life and work of the Scottish poet, Robbie Burns (1759-1756)

The main ingredients for a successful evening are haggis, turnips, potatoes and lots of whisky! We have a horn quaich which is ideal for drinking your wee drams – as the horn won’t taint the taste of your fine whisky

The first suppers were held in Ayrshire at the end of the 18th century by Robert Burns’ friends on the anniversary of his death, 21 July, In Memoriamand they have been a regular occurrence ever since.  They are now held on the anniversary of his birth – 25th January

A traditional Burns supper will include haggis and Scotch whisky and the recitation of Burns’ poetry

There is a standard format for the dinner beginning with the Host’s Welcoming Speech :

The Selkirk Grace

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae let the Lord be thankit

• Entrance of the Haggis (here the Address to the Haggis is given)
• Supper: Haggis, Bashed Neeps and Tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes!) and drams of whisky
• Immortal Memory (a speech about some aspect of Burns’ life and work)
• Appreciation (a speech by the host to thank whoever gave the Immortal Memory)
• Toast to the Lassies (used to be a thank you to the females who had prepared the meal! Usually given by a male speaker and a general musing on the fairer sex – never offensive as the Lassies reply!)
• Reply to the Toast to the Lassies (or a Toast to the Laddies, given in reply to the previous speech by a female
• Other toasts and speeches
• Recitation of Burns’ poetry
• 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