25th January: Burns Night

Today is Burns Day, when many people in Scotland, or who come from Scotland, will be celebrating with a Burns Supper. Here are 10 facts about Burns Suppers which the rest of us Sassenachs may not know:

Edinburgh Castle

1. Although Burns suppers are traditionally held on or around the 25th of January, the birth date of Robert Burns, they can be held at any time of year. In fact, the first ones, in the 18th century, were held by friends of the poet on 21 July, the anniversary of his death.
2. Nor are they confined to Scotland. They are increasingly popular elsewhere in the UK, in particular Northern Ireland. There is a strong tradition of them as far afield as Dunedin, New Zealand. Robert Burns' nephew, Thomas Burns, was a founding father of that city.
3. Grace is said before supper, usually the "Selkrk Grace" because Robert Burns himself was said to have used this particular grace at a dinner party given by the Earl of Selkirk,. The words date back to the 17th century and were also known as the Galloway or Covenanters' Grace. 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 let the Lord be thankit."
4. Next is a soup course, normally something Scottish like Cock-a-Leekie.
5. The main event is the main course, which is always a haggis on a large dish. The cook ceremoniously carries the dish in and lays it in front of the host, to the sound of bagpipes, with everyone standing.
6. Someone, more often than not the host, or anyone with Thespian talents who may be present, recites Robert Burns' poem addressing the haggis, the first verse of which goes as follows: Fair fa' your honest, sonsie (cheerful) face, Great chieftain o' the puddin-race! Aboon (above) them a' ye tak your place, Painch (stomach), tripe, or thairm (intestine): Weel are ye wordy (worthy) o' a grace As lang's my arm. There are seven further verses singing the praise of haggises.
7. The third verse begins: His knife see rustic Labour dicht (wipe or sharpen), at which point the speaker draws and sharpens a knife. At the next line, An' cut you up wi' ready slicht (skill), he slices the haggis from end to end.
8. At the end of the poem, the host proposes a toast to the haggis (with Scotch whisky, naturally) and everyone tucks in to the haggis, and the neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes) which are traditionally served with it. This is followed by a traditional dessert such as whisky trifle, cheese, biscuits and coffee.
9. After the meal, there are speeches. The first will have Burns's life or poetry as its theme. The host will then thank the first speaker. Next, a male guest will give a speech with the theme of his view of women, and propose a toast for the men to drink to the women's health - "Toast to the Lassies". Originally, the purpose of this was to thank the women who had prepared the meal, but in modern times it is light hearted teasing of the women by the men, and will be followed by a "toast to the laddies" in which a female guest gets to reply and to give her own views on men! Songs and poetry by Burns are performed, and it is not uncommon for guests who come from places other than Scotland to be invited to perform traditional pieces from their own culture.
10. The evening closes with the singing of Auld Lang Syne (It's not just for New Year!)