Celebrating Burns Night in Scotland

Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns is Scotland’s national poet. Born in 1759, Burns penned a vast volume of poetry, prose and songs that helped to define the character and spirit of the country. You’ll be aware of his better known songs like “Auld Lang Syne”, which you drunkenly slur on New Year’s Eve, and ‘A Red, Red Rose’, which you don’t.

Burns’ work and legacy are such a part of the national identity that, every year on January 25th, Scots around the world celebrate his birthday. And a good Burns Night celebration centres around the Burns supper.

A Burns supper is made up of a hearty dinner with friends and recitations of his poems and songs. Accompanied by a dram, or four, of whisky. After all, what’s a Scottish celebration without a wee tipple? Especially as it’s only been three weeks since Hogmanay, Scotland’s epic New Year’s bash.

Traditionally, the centrepiece of a Burn supper is the haggis. It’s concocted from blended sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs, minced with onion, oatmeal, and spices. To the uninitiated, haggis may seem somewhat off-putting but is, in actual fact, not only edible but truly delicious. Vegetarian haggis is available and is also very good.

The supper starts with 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 the Lord be thankit.

And the haggis is then paraded into the dining room. The host then recites Burns’ “Address to a Haggis”, a witty poem which elevates the humble haggis to the status of a clan chieftain. It begins:

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 of a grace
As lang ‘s my arm.

The haggis is complimented with neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes) and, inevitably, more whisky. Dinner is accompanied by The Immortal Memory. This is similar to a light-hearted wedding speech, where the speaker weaves together the life story of Burns, his literary genius, while celebrating his love for Scotland.

The host then honours the women present with the traditional “toast to the lassies” and this is reciprocated with the “toast from the lassies”. Needless to say, all this is accompanied with more whisky.

Finally, there is a vote of thanks and everyone finishes with a rousing rendition of “Auld Lang Syne”.

When written out, a Burns Supper is rather reminiscent of a fever dream. But it’s quintessentially Scottish. It’s not just a celebration of our favourite poet, it’s a warm combination of good food, good fun and bringing people together to help get us through the long, dark winter nights. Sláinte!