Burns Night! A poetic celebration.

Jimm_Scope

Hello Scope Community!

Tonight is Burns Night, a date in the calendar of many Scots, a day to celebrate the most celebrated Scottish poet Robert Burns. For those who don’t know it, I hope to explain a little about this wonderful tradition I picked up while I lived in Scotland.

 

[A portrait of Robert Burns, from his chest up. He is wearing 18th century clothing, a brown jacket with a grey-green waistcoat and a white shirt underneath. He is white and has short, dark brown hair with light brown eyes.]

Why is Burns celebrated?

Robert Burns, born 1759, is the historic spokesperson for Scots and Scottish dialect poetry. It’s rare that a single person has had such an effect on a languages artistic use. He not only wrote his own poetry and songs in Scots and English, but he recorded and adapted many old folklore songs. Preserving them in history for us to enjoy today. His works left such an effect on the people of Scotland in his brief 37 years, that his poetry was famous throughout Scotland in his own lifetime. He was a celebrity of the time, from farm boy to a household name.

Burns Night

Burns Night started as a gathering of friends on the 5th anniversary of his death on 21st July 1801. To make it a little less sombre they quickly switched to celebrating it on his birthday, the 25th of January, though there was initially some confusion about when he was born before records were found confirming it as the 25th! It has grown from a gathering of past friends to a recognised Scottish Heritage Event.

The Supper

The dinner (or supper as it’s known in Scotland!), traditionally includes haggis, a favourite of Burns. Now, if you’ve not tried haggis before I’m sure you’re maybe turning your nose up, I did the same until I tried it. Haggis is wonderfully spiced, very similar to ground mince with the oats adding a little nuttiness. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I tried haggis and I’ve now had it many times since, it’s an excellent way to use up the parts of an animal that would usually be thrown away!

 

[An image showing 3 items that are traditionally served on  Burns Night. Bottom Left: Haggis, made from minced offal, spices and oats. Upper Left: Mashed Potato, known as 'tatties'. Right: Mashed Swede turnip, known as 'neeps'.]

Just prior to the meal being served the Selkirk Grace is spoken, said to have been the Grace Burns preferred to speak before a meal

Some hae meat an canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it
But we hae meat, and we can eat
And sae the Lord be thankit.

Rest of the Night

It is then also traditional to give toasts after everyone has had their fill. Firstly to the Memory of Robert Burns, and then toasts to the hosts and guests of the supper. 

The night is ended with a selection of Robert Burns poetry and songs.  You can read a selection of his works here on the Scottish Poetry Library site. The one most likely to be known is “Auld Lang Syne”, an adaptation of a Scottish folk song, sung to pass from the old year and into the new year.

One of my favourites is “Up in the Morning Early”

Cauld blaws the wind frae east to west,
The drift is driving sairly;
Sae loud and shrill’s I hear the blast,
I’m sure it’s winter fairly.
Up in the morning’s no for me,
Up in the morning early;
When a’ the hills are cover’d wi’ snaw,
I’m sure its winter fairly.
The birds sit chittering in the thorn,
A’ day they fare but sparely;
And lang’s the night frae e’en to morn,
I’m sure it’s winter fairly.
Up in the morning’s no for me,
Up in the morning early;
When a’ the hills are cover’d wi’ snaw,
I’m sure its winter fairly.

So, do you celebrate Burns Night? Even if you don’t, I highly recommend reading through his works. The Scots can be difficult to read at times, so if you like there’s a much longer list of his works here than the Scottish Poetry Library shows, that also has English translations.

 

Let me know what your favourite Burns poem is! Or maybe you’ve some thoughts on haggis (you can say you dislike it don’t worry!)? Are there any poets you wish had such celebrations? I know there’s a collection of poets in our community, maybe we should have a day to celebrate them!

Sandy_123

No I don't celebrate burns night, but alot of my ancestors were Scottish and around the same time as him. I do like a lot of his written work tho

Caroline16

Hi all, I’m Scottish through and through, I enjoy Burns very much but understand it can be difficult to understand ( even for me) we Scott’s are very proud of the Baird as he is known, through my work in Social Care I have attended, many many Burns Nights where we have a tradition of addressing the Haggis, a poem from Robbie before we cut into the haggis and then we share it it with whoever is present at the table, it’s also traditional to have a wee dram with our meal ( that’s a wee Whisky) by the way, then as said before his poetry and songs are celebrated, now in my line of work all of this was done in BSL ( sign language) as all the people I supported were deaf some were Blind and the last group were both Deaf and Blind, we ensured all the group had a great time, and those who could would contribute with signed songs and some danced the highland fling etc, a very popular night and one always very well attended, we often filmed the whole thing and recorded the singing and dancing this could then be shown to friends and family who couldn’t attend, now for the unknown fact of this we story, as Scottish as I am, I dislike haggis and neeps and much to the horror of my family I loath Whiskey as well 😱hope all who celebrated had a good night, take care everyone it’s so cold damp and with strong winds, let be careful out there  X

Albus_Scope

I had haggis many many years ago and wasn't a fan, but I was told by a friend that it was rubbish haggis and I should try a good one. So maybe this year!

Sandy_123

Never tried haggis neeps I have.