Robert Burns: 1759-1796 |
Burns Supper
The Burns supper is a gathering of friends which can be either formal or informal. Celebrations begin by piping in the guests to the sound of bagpipes. This music usually comes from live musicians at larger, more formal ceremonies, but a CD is more than adequate for smaller gatherings with a few friends.When the food is ready, it is ushered in to a recital of The Selkirk Grace, usually given by the host. It goes as follows:
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.
The Address To The Haggis
Before the eating begins, the host then recites Address To A HaggisWhen reading the line, ‘His knife see Rustic-labour dight’ the host cuts the haggis open along its length, making sure they spill out some of the insides.
Toast to the haggis
Once the recital has finished, everybody raises their glass and shouts ‘To the Haggis!’The haggis is traditionally served with neeps and tatties, which is mashed swede and potatoes to non-Scottish people. For dessert, Clootie Dumpling or Tipsy Laird are usually the preferred choices. And to wash everything down, guests generally drink whisky and wine (not in the same glass of course!)