Happy Burns Night to everyone celebrating! - 25/01/23

Happy Burns Night to everyone celebrating!

Today we come together to honor the life and work of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet. Burns is celebrated for his contributions to Scottish literature, including his famous poems such as "Auld Lang Syne" and "To a Mouse."

Burns Night is traditionally celebrated on January 25th, the anniversary of Burns' birth in 1759. The evening typically includes a Burns supper, a meal that includes haggis, neeps, and tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes) as well as whisky and other traditional Scottish dishes. The meal is usually followed by the recitation of Burns' poetry, and the singing of Burns' songs, such as "Auld Lang Syne."

One of the highlights of the evening is the traditional address to the haggis, which is a poem written by Burns called "Address to a Haggis." The poem is read aloud before the haggis is brought out to be served. The poem is a humorous and affectionate tribute to the Scottish dish, and it is a nod to the country's cultural heritage.

To get you started, here is the first verse:

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 o' a grace

As lang's my arm.

The celebration of Burns Night is not just limited to Scotland, it is celebrated around the world wherever there are Scottish people or people of Scottish descent.

It is a time to come together, to reflect on the past, and to celebrate the present. So, let us raise a glass and toast to the memory of Robert Burns, and to the enduring legacy of his poetry and songs.

Slàinte! (cheers in Scottish Gaelic) Let's have a night filled with poetry, music, and of course, haggis!