Robert Burns Night Supper
June 14, 2009 by The Laird
Filed under Robert Burns
Burns Night Supper it’s format and theme
Contrary to popular opinion Robert Burns did not start up “Burns Night Suppers” indeed the first one was not held till a few years after his death in 1796 when some friends got together to commemorate his lifetime and their friendship.
Today Burns Night Suppers are held all over the world where Scots and their descendants live usually on the 25th January (his birthday) although lets face it the date is always very flexible around that time to suit local calenders and diaries.
Robert Burns Night Supper
The basic format has not changed since then and should always start with the Chairman inviting the company of people to “receive the haggis”.
What is the connection between the haggis and Burns Night? Well rather than repeat ourselves too much here we suggest you go to our section on the haggis and read up on the history of the haggis and the Burns poem “To the Haggis”.
Burns Night Menu Format
The meal should always start with The Selkirk Grace an ancient Scottish prayer.
Som hae meat and canna eat.
And some wad eat that want it:
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit’
Address to the Haggis
It is then that a piper will lead the way followed by the Chef carrying the haggis to the top table. (If you have no bagpiper at least have a CD of Bagpipe music to create the right atmosphere.)
The Chairman or special invited guest will then recite the famous Poem by Rabbie Burns “To a Haggis”. When he reaches the line “an cut you up wi ready slight” he stabs the haggis and cuts it open with a sharp knife. It would be normal for all guests to applaud when the speaker finishes and for all to stand for a special toast to the haggis with a glass of Scotch whisky.
The Immortal Memory speech
One of the most essential features of any good Burns supper is an invited guest able to give a relatively short speech on Robert Burns and his poetry written in the Scot’s tongue. After all isn’t the main reason for having a Burns Night Supper to commemorate the greatness and relevance of his poetry in this modern world whilst not forgetting the past and current greatness of Scottish Culture living on.
The Burns Night Toast To The Lassies.
Rabbie Burns had a great attraction to the ladies or lassies as he would have called them and many of them were attracted to his sharp wit and natural talent for being able to “chat them up” with words of poetry. This is a much more lighthearted address to the women present with fun but try not be insulting or offensive (although that would have been Burns style!).
The Response
This is where the lassies get their turn to talk about the males and should again be fun but not too insulting. The evening is still young and we don’t want anyone being too offended to enjoy the rest of the evening.
Burns Songs and Poetry
A time of sharing some of Robert Burns Songs and poems can be taken at various times throughout the evening. The evening should always finish of course with Auld Lang Syne. Although best known of as being sang only on New Years Eve it is sung in Scotland at the conclusion of many an merry evening party.
Some traditions will have a glass of Scotch whisky poured over the haggis during the toast but most people — like myself — believe that the whisky and haggis already have a distinctive taste of their own and both would be spoiled by mixing them before serving. Consume them separately and enjoy.
Last year one Burns Night Supper host in Canada ordered a Laird or Lady of Jura package for each of his guests as a special memento of the occasion giving each person personal ownership of a plot of Scottish land and an ancient Scottish title. If you are tempted to do something similar have a look at http://Become-a-Lord.co.uk and see how affordable they really can be. And yes we can do a special bulk discount for Burns Night events
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