With Christmas and New Year now behind us, the next event we love to celebrate in Scotland is the 25th of January. We’re talking about Scotland’s ‘other national day’, after St Andrew’s Day in late November. Any guesses? We are of course talking about…Burns Night. It’s an important date in the Scottish national calendar, but why? For that, we need to go back in time….
Burns Night is an annual celebration of Scotland’s most famous poet – a man called Robert Burns. Born in Ayr, Burns was more than just a poet. He produced hundreds of poems, songs and letters. You no doubt may have heard (or even sang!) ‘Auld Lang Syne’ when ringing in the New Year? That was written by ‘Rabbie’ Burns too! In all he penned more than 550 poems and songs before his death in 1796. Today he is honoured with the title ‘Scotland’s national poet’ or the ‘NationalBard of Ayrshire’
Origins – A Tradition is Born
The very first Burns Night was held in 1801, and over 200 years later, some of the traditions of that night still exist today.
Burns Night itself marks the anniversary ofRobert Burns’ birth on 25 January 1759 and the traditional Burns supper is an evening event that celebrates his life and work. History can trace its origins back to nine of Burns’ close friends who decided to get together to mark the fifth anniversary of their friend’s death. Taking place at Burns Cottage in Alloway, the night included a tasty meal of haggis, performances of Burns’ work and a speech in honour of the great ‘Bard’. The night was deemed such a success, it was decided the occasion would be held again, this time in honour of Rabbie’s birthday, and so the tradition we enjoy to this day was born. Let’s look at the origins of the special traditions that mark Burns Night.
The Burns Supper
The centrepiece of any Burns Supper is always the haggis. If you’re unfamiliar with haggis, you may want to take a seat as the ingredients can seem a little ‘unusual’, but we can assure you it’s tasty!
Haggis is a savoury pudding containing sheep’s heart, liver and lungs, which is minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, stock and a selection of spices. This is then traditionally contained in the animal’s stomach. The haggis is served with a side of mashed turnip (neeps) and potatoes (tatties) which are also usually mashed. The food is, of course, accompanied by the finest Scotch Whisky.
If haggis just doesn’t appeal to your taste, there are popular Scottish dishes like Cullen Skink soup, made from smoked haddock. You can also get vegetarian versions as an alternative to the traditional haggis.
Address to a Haggis
A Burns Night usually will kick off with a host reading his“Address to a Haggis”. This poem was written by Burns to celebrate his appreciation of the Haggis. This particular poem is always the first item on the programme of Burns’ Suppers. The haggis is generally carried in on a silver salver at the start of the proceedings. As it is brought to the table a piper plays it in (knowing as ‘Piping in the haggis’)
One of the invited guests then recites the poem before the theatrical cutting of the haggis with the ceremonial knife! Guests can then enjoy an evening of dancing and traditional Scottish music.
So, there you have it. We hope this trip in time shed some light on a much-loved Burns tradition celebrated in Scotland and across the world. Wherever you are, let’s all raise a glass to Robert Burns.
History can trace its origins back to nine of Burns' close friends who decided to get together to mark the fifth anniversary of their friend's death. Taking place at Burns Cottage in Alloway, the night included a tasty meal of haggis, performances of Burns' work and a speech in honour of the great 'Bard'.
Every year in Scotland, on January 25th, we celebrate Burns' Night. Almost considered a 2nd National Day after St Andrews' Day in November, this is the night where we Scots celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns, a poet and lyricist, and arguably one of Scotland's most notable figures.
When is Burns Night? Burns Night falls on 25 January every year. The date was chosen to coincide with the poet's birthday, who was born on 25 January 1759. The first Burns supper hosted by the Burns Club was held on 29 January 1802, on what was thought to be Burns' birthday.
This first supper was organised by the Reverend Hamilton Paul for a gathering of nine 'honest men of Ayr'. For some years there was a question over whether a woman had been in attendance, as one of those noted had the Christian name Primrose, an uncommon name for a man.
Serve up a Scottish supper to remember with a classic smoked fish soup and the essential haggis, neeps and tatties - all rounded off with a traditional clootie dumpling. Delicious!
Many celebrating Burns Night look to embrace the Scottish Gaelic. People traditionally greet each other with the phrase "Sláinte Mhath!" which translates to "Good Health!" - it's pronounced "slanj'-uh va'". If you want to directly translate the words "Happy Burns Night" you could try "Oidhche Bhlas Burns".
In 1971, it became illegal to import haggis into the US from the UK due to a ban on food containing sheep lung, which constitutes 10–15% of the traditional recipe. The ban encompasses all lungs, as fluids such as stomach acid and phlegm may enter the lung during slaughter.
While there is no formal greeting for Burns Night, people generally say “Sláinte Mhath” to one another. This is pronounced “slanj'-uh va” and translates as “Good Health!”. You can also say “Oidhche Bhlas Burns”, which means “Happy Burns Night”.
Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties - The iconic dish of Burns Night. Venison Medallions with Whisky Sauce - Tender venison medallions served with a rich whisky-infused sauce. Cranachan A traditional Scottish dessert made with whipped cream, raspberries, oats, and whisky.
For Burns Night food, hearty, warming dishes made from traditionally Scottish ingredients are preferable. No traditional Burns Night menu is complete without haggis as the star of the show.
1. “Dare to be honest and fear no labor.” Taken from the anthology The Prose Work of Robert Burns, this quotation is not actually from a poem, but rather from an essay he wrote.
To start – everyone gathers, the host says a few words, everyone sits and the Selkirk Grace is said. The meal – the starter is served, the haggis is piped in, the host performs the famous Burns Night haggis poem Address to a Haggis, everyone toasts the haggis and the main meal is served, followed by dessert.
He may be Scotland's greatest poet, he is certainly Scotland's greatest songwriter, and in both these spheres he shows the world the romantic and also the modern image of his nation. He is, quite simply, one of the most fascinating cultural phenomena to emerge in the eighteenth-century.
Both Burns and Burness are recognised by some sources as septs, or having kinship with, the proud Clan Campbell, and the reasons for this still remain something of a rather controversial historical mystery, with several conflictingexplanations.
In local usage, a burn is a kind of watercourse. The term applies to a large stream or a small river. The word is used in Scotland and England (especially North East England) and in parts of Ulster, Kansas, Australia and New Zealand.
In September 1786 Jean gave birth to twins, but it was only after she had twins again in March 1788 that Burns married her. Jean bore Burns eight children and raised one by a mistress, but only three survived into adulthood.
Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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