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The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society in Southern California puts on an annual Burns Night dinner. The ceremony begins when the haggis is brought in on a silver platter. The procession is led by a bagpiper and the haggis is guarded by four swordsmen. All are wearing kilts.

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,
Are spent amang the lasses,

Then the ladies would rise and drink a "toast to the laddies."

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.