Burns Supper
Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish culture for over 200 years as a means of commemorating our best loved bard. And when Burns immortalized haggis in verse, he created a central link that is maintained to this day. The ritual was started by close friends of Burns a few years after his death in 1796 as a tribute to his memory. The basic format for the evening has remained unchanged since that time and begins when the chairman invites the company to receive the haggis.
FORMAT FOR THE BURNS SUPPER
A few welcoming words start the evening and the meal commences with the Selkirk Grace.
The company are asked to stand to receive the haggis. A piper then leads the chef, (traditionally Poosie Nancy, the owner of the pub that Burns attended) carrying the haggis to the top table, while the guests accompany them with a slow handclap. The chairman or invited guest then recites Burns' famous poem To A Haggis, withgreat enthusiasm. When he reaches the line 'an cut you up wi' ready slight', he cuts open the haggis with a sharp knife. It's customary for the company to applaud the speaker then stand and toast the haggis with a glass of whiskey.
A few welcoming words start the evening and the meal commences with the Selkirk Grace.
The company are asked to stand to receive the haggis. A piper then leads the chef, (traditionally Poosie Nancy, the owner of the pub that Burns attended) carrying the haggis to the top table, while the guests accompany them with a slow handclap. The chairman or invited guest then recites Burns' famous poem To A Haggis, withgreat enthusiasm. When he reaches the line 'an cut you up wi' ready slight', he cuts open the haggis with a sharp knife. It's customary for the company to applaud the speaker then stand and toast the haggis with a glass of whiskey.
The company will then dine.
A typical Bill o' Fare could be
Cock-a-leekie or Scotch Broth
Haggis warm and reeking, rich wi' Tatties, and Neeps
Typsy Laird (sherry trifle)
A typical Bill o' Fare could be
Cock-a-leekie or Scotch Broth
Haggis warm and reeking, rich wi' Tatties, and Neeps
Typsy Laird (sherry trifle)
The Immortal Memory
One of the central features of the evening: An invited guest is asked to give a short speech on Burns. There are many different types ofImmortal Memory speeches, from light-hearted to literary, but the aim is the same - to outline the greatness and relevance of the poet today.
Toast To The Lassies
The main speech is followed by a more light-hearted address to the women in the audience. Originally this was a thank you to the ladies for preparing the food and a time to toast the 'lassies' in Burns' life. The tone should be witty, but never offensive, and should always end on a conciliatory note.
Response
The turn of the lassies to detail men's foibles. Again, should be humorous but not insulting.
Poems and Songs
Once the speeches are complete, the evening continues with songs and poems. These should be a good variety to fully show the different
moods of Burns muse. Favorites for recitations are Tam o' Shanter, Address to the Unco Guid, To A Mouse and Holy Willie's Prayer.
The evening will culminate with the company standing, linking hands and singing Auld Lang Syne to conclude the program.
One of the central features of the evening: An invited guest is asked to give a short speech on Burns. There are many different types ofImmortal Memory speeches, from light-hearted to literary, but the aim is the same - to outline the greatness and relevance of the poet today.
Toast To The Lassies
The main speech is followed by a more light-hearted address to the women in the audience. Originally this was a thank you to the ladies for preparing the food and a time to toast the 'lassies' in Burns' life. The tone should be witty, but never offensive, and should always end on a conciliatory note.
Response
The turn of the lassies to detail men's foibles. Again, should be humorous but not insulting.
Poems and Songs
Once the speeches are complete, the evening continues with songs and poems. These should be a good variety to fully show the different
moods of Burns muse. Favorites for recitations are Tam o' Shanter, Address to the Unco Guid, To A Mouse and Holy Willie's Prayer.
The evening will culminate with the company standing, linking hands and singing Auld Lang Syne to conclude the program.
Wear Your Kilt or Tartan!
When you put on your Clan's colors you are putting on your family's history. The tartan and subsequent highland dress should always be worn with dignity and with an understanding and observation of the tradition they represent. It is a uniform and an icon. People normally take immense care in correctly wearing proper Highland Dress, and that is what it deserves, because men have died in war wearing it and men and women have suffered death, transportation, privation, and hardship because the tartan was their native wear and they refused to obey the 18th century ban on tartan promulgated by the Hanoverian Government after the 1745 Jacobite Rising failed.
It is important to stress that Highland dress is referred to as "Scottish attire" both in Scotland, and by those of Scots descent or affiliation around the world, and rightfully so. It is not a costume but attire, and it is important to remember this. (As J.C. Thompson says in his wonderful book, "So You're Going top Wear the Kilt?" ". . . The kilt is perfectly normal dress for any man of Scottish ancestry or connections, and anyone who feels differently is simply displaying their ignorance.")
Many women wear kilted tartan skirts, frequently mid-calf length, with or without a kilt pin. Sporrans and kilts are never worn by women unless required to do so as part of the uniform of a mixed pipe band. A kilted tartan skirt is worn with the usual range of women's blouses, pullovers, and jackets; whatever is tasteful.
Nowadays, while gowns with tartan sashes are seen all over the world, they are especially seen at Scottish Highland Balls and Dances.
Sashes are worn across the upper half of the dress, from the right shoulder diagonally across to the left hip where the two ends are knotted together. A brooch pins the sash to the shoulder. The Queen of Great Britain or wife of the clan chief pins the sash to her left shoulder in opposition to the position of her clanswomen's sashes.
(See Proper Way to Wear a Ladies Tartan Sash)
When you put on your Clan's colors you are putting on your family's history. The tartan and subsequent highland dress should always be worn with dignity and with an understanding and observation of the tradition they represent. It is a uniform and an icon. People normally take immense care in correctly wearing proper Highland Dress, and that is what it deserves, because men have died in war wearing it and men and women have suffered death, transportation, privation, and hardship because the tartan was their native wear and they refused to obey the 18th century ban on tartan promulgated by the Hanoverian Government after the 1745 Jacobite Rising failed.
It is important to stress that Highland dress is referred to as "Scottish attire" both in Scotland, and by those of Scots descent or affiliation around the world, and rightfully so. It is not a costume but attire, and it is important to remember this. (As J.C. Thompson says in his wonderful book, "So You're Going top Wear the Kilt?" ". . . The kilt is perfectly normal dress for any man of Scottish ancestry or connections, and anyone who feels differently is simply displaying their ignorance.")
Many women wear kilted tartan skirts, frequently mid-calf length, with or without a kilt pin. Sporrans and kilts are never worn by women unless required to do so as part of the uniform of a mixed pipe band. A kilted tartan skirt is worn with the usual range of women's blouses, pullovers, and jackets; whatever is tasteful.
Nowadays, while gowns with tartan sashes are seen all over the world, they are especially seen at Scottish Highland Balls and Dances.
Sashes are worn across the upper half of the dress, from the right shoulder diagonally across to the left hip where the two ends are knotted together. A brooch pins the sash to the shoulder. The Queen of Great Britain or wife of the clan chief pins the sash to her left shoulder in opposition to the position of her clanswomen's sashes.
(See Proper Way to Wear a Ladies Tartan Sash)