Have a celebration with a Scottish writer's feast

[The Patriot]

Have a celebration with a Scottish writer's feast

01-18-2012 07:49 AM

Published:
Wed, 2012-01-18 15:45


Have a celebration with a Scottish writer's feast


Heather Joy


feature_story_photo:
Courtesy Photo






Have a celebration with a Scottish writer's feast

Heather Joy
Looking for a reason to try Haggis or to sing “Auld Lang Syne” again, then have a Burns Night celebration.
They are only part of the components of a great Burns celebration, which honors the 18th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns, whose work includes the famous New Year’s Eve tune. According to the World Burns Club the first recorded Burns celebration was held in July 1801, 5 years after his death with a guest list of friends and acquaintances. Later the date was moved to January 25 the anniversary of this birth.
According to the Web site Scottish Crafts, History and Traditions the evening includes several key elements including guests, a traditional Burns supper menu, a chairman, speakers and entertainers.
First the guests are welcomed to the sounds of the piper and his bagpipes, once your guests are seated then it is time for the Chairman’s welcome and the Selkirk Grace - a prayer before the meal.
Once again the piper plays as the guests stand and pay tribute to the dinner’s main attraction- the haggis. The World Burns Club says the procession comprises of the chef carrying the haggis on a silver tray, the Haggis speaker, and a waiter carrying a try with whisky for each guest to toast the Haggis with. Once the Burns’ poem “Address to a Haggis” is read, the speaker dramatically cuts the haggis down its length providing the guest with an interesting and often gross visual treat.
The rest of the evenings fare includes Cock-a-leekie soup, Bashit neeps and champit tatties, clootie dumpling or Scottish trifle and Bannocks and Cheese. (see recipes under food for thought tab)
Then the entertainment continues with readings of Burns’ works, singing and music. Popular readings include “Tam O Shanter” and “A Man’s a Man for A’ That”. According to the British Broadcasting Corp. the oration is supposed to glide the fine line between serious intent and sparkling wit to paint the picture of Scotland’s “favorite son”.
Traditional Burns evenings include a Toast to the Lassies, which is a humorous toast about the importance of women. In mixed company the humor is more complimentary and witty, while male only suppers exaggerate the male chauvinist view, but always end with a complimentary note. If the guest list includes women- the more traditional Burns Nights were for men only- then the women reply with an equally humorous Toast to the Laddies. The evening ends with a robust rendition of “Auld Lang Syne”.








More...