It's Burns Night! Will you be celebrating?

Rachel_Scope

Burns Night takes place on 25th January to celebrate the life of Scotland's National Bard, Robert Burns. It involves eating haggis, neeps and tatties, and reciting Burns' famous works. Scottish artist, Louisa Schmolke has created artwork that depicts 'Scotland's creative spirit in 100 squares' which features sketches of ancient architecture, inventions, and ideas that Scotland is known for. Here's a section of it. What do you recognise?

Burn's Works

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Auld Lang Syne, maybe you sang it on New Year's Eve? It's his most famous work and is sung all over the world whilst shaking hands with arms crossed. I wonder where that tradition came from?

I thought I'd share an excerpt from 'Address to a Haggis'. I've never tried haggis and not sure I'm brave enough to!

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,

Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!

Aboon them a' yet tak your place,

Painch, tripe, or thairm:

Weel are ye wordy o'a grace

As lang's me 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.

You can find out more about Burns Night here https://www.scotland.org/events/burns-night

Chris75_

I attended numerous Burn's suppers, but not for many years.

The local Church of Scotland minister, he was capable of delivering a passionate rendition of'Tam O' Shanter', complete with actions. The man fancied himself as quite the actor, he played a mean pantomime dame. 🙄

Rachel_Scope

Haha brilliant. I'm sure he was very entertaining! Have you eaten haggis?

Chris75_

Not in recent years, as I'm vegetarian these days.

Haggis is really nice, but I imagine it would give me heart burn now.

Rachel_Scope

I just can't get past the thought of what it is. I'm a fussy eater though so I'm a lost cause. I'll partake in Scottish culture by listening to The Proclaimers and drinking Irn-Bru.