Posted on 01/25/2023 5:24:44 AM PST by Red Badger
(Last Updated On: May 4, 2022)
BURNS SUPPER
Every year on January 25th, fans of Robert Burns gather together in honor of the famous Scottish poet. The day is popular in the UK, especially among Scottish culture.
Also known as Burns Night and Robert Burns Day, this event is held every year on the birthday of Robert Burns. The Scottish writer of poems and songs was born on January 25th, 1759. He died on July 21, 1796, at the age of 37 years old. Burns had a rheumatic heart condition and is believed to have died from an infection of the heart called endocarditis.
Burns is best known for his poem, “Auld Lang Syne,” which in English means “days gone by” or “times long past.” The poem has turned into a song sung on New Year’s. Other well-known works by Robert Burns include:
“To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With the Plough”
“A Red, Red Rose”
“Ae Fond Kiss”
“To A Louse”
“Is There for Honest Poverty”
Another one of his poems is “Address to a Haggis.” Considered the national dish of Scotland, haggis is a dish that contains a sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs. The dish is minced with oatmeal, suet, and seasoning and encased in the sheep’s stomach. Burns’ poem glorifies the popularity of this authentic Scottish food. Because of this, Burns Suppers traditionally serve haggis as part of the meal.
HOW TO OBSERVE #BurnsSupper
This annual event usually consists of haggis, Scotch whiskey, and the poetry of Robert Burns. It’s also customary to recite “Address to a Haggis” before eating. A whiskey toast kicks off the feast. Other courses served include soup, cheese, and dessert. Another tradition during the meal includes playing traditional Scottish music, primarily live bagpipes.
Those in attendance also say the Selkirk Grace, which is a prayer of Thanksgiving in the Scottish language. After the meal, an “address to the lassies” and a “reply to the laddies” is given. The attendees end the supper by joining hands and singing “Auld Lang Syne.”
Whether you’re Scottish or not, be sure to share this day on social media with #BurnsSupper.
BURNS SUPPER HISTORY
Friends of Robert Burns held the first Burns Supper on July 21, 1801, the fifth anniversary of his death. The next year, the group hosted the Burns Supper on January 29th, which they thought was the poet’s birthdate. In 1803, the correct birthdate was discovered. Since then, Burns Suppers have been celebrated each year on January 25th.
In survival training I’ve eaten rattlesnake, turtle, turtle eggs, prickly pear cactus, skate, honeycomb with bee larvae inside. I don’t know if I ever would be hungry enough to choke down even a small bite of haggis.
Just think of it as Scottish SAUSAGE!.......................
Haggis is the reason that the Scots were forced to invent fine single malt Scotch.
It is the only thing that allows you to choke down the Haggis. (I was going to say “that makes Haggis edible,” but that would have been a gross overstatement.)
Suas Alba agus Alba gu Bràth!
THings are “Scottish”,
People are “Scots”,
and the drink is WHISKY,
without the ‘E”
Clan Ramsay traces back to 1313.
If only he had been vaccinated...
He probably was bled to death. It was THE latest treatment in those days.....................
Went to a Burns supper years ago back when Kearny, NJ was still mostly a Scottish / Irish town. Good food (yes I even liked the haggis), good fun.
Haggis….the reason to consume lots of Scotch
You’ve had too much SCOTCH..................
Over the week end, I watched a video of Taggart, a Scottish detective.
There were scenes in a sausage factory where long, round casings that appeared to be 2”+ were filled with the sausage mixture. They were boiled and then hung up. After that was accomplished, another person placed the rounded balls of haggis in the water to boil and later removed and suspended from the same racks as the sausage.
The haggis was clearly seen to be different from the sausage
On the outside yes, but that is basically just a cosmetic difference..................
When the haggis is set down, Robert Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis" is read--usually by a native Scotsman, as it would not sound very authentic if read in a California accent by someone like myself. Translations of the poem into modern English are usually included in the program handed to each guest.
In the past, this was followed by a "toast to the lassies" by the men, who after the toast, would sing Burns' 1783 poem "Green Grow the Rashes," which contains the line,
The sweetest hours that e'er I spend,Then the ladies would rise and drink a "toast to the laddies."
Are spent amang the lasses,
This was followed by a toast to the queen of Scotland (Elizabeth I at the time) and then the president of the US. However, this practice was discontinued during Bush 43's presidency after the group's leadership shifted leftwards. I believe the toast to the lassies and laddies has also been discontinued.
After the ceremony, the guests would eat dinner, and everyone got to eat some of the haggis. After dinner, the Scottish country dancing began. The dances at thes events are chosen in advance and usually include one entitled "Burns Night" and also "The Lee Rig," which is inspired by a Burns poem.
However, I discontinued my involvement in this group after 2020, as they now demand that you show proof of having been "vaccinated" to attend any of their events.
I have a little Scots-Irish ancestry on my mother’s side and have been to the area in Scotland where the family originated (we don’t know the exact parish because the early parish records are very incomplete). Managed to spend several days in Scotland without eating haggis.
One of my sisters spent a summer in Scotland in boarding school.............
ADDRESS TO A HAGGIS
—Robert Burns, 1786
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the pudding-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 groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o’need,
While thro’ your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An’ cut you up wi’ ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin’, rich!
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an’ strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit! hums.
Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad make her spew
Wi’ perfect sconner,
Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view
On sic a dinner?
Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as wither’d rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;
His nieve a nit;
Thro’ bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He’ll mak it whissle;
An’ legs an’ arms, an’ heads will sned,
Like taps o’ thrissle.
Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o’ fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer
Gie her a haggis!
What is Scotland’s gross domestic product? Haggis
I tried Haggis. It tasted offal!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.