Robert Burns Day

Robert Burns Day is January 25. It celebrates the birthday of Scotland's favourite son and is a celebration of all things Scot.

The Burns Supper
Haggis is eaten on special occasions like Burn’s Night, a special dinner to celebrate the life of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet, which is held on January 25th. A Burns Supper has followed the same tradition since his death in 1796:

1. The haggis is piped into and around the room; the tune played is usually A Man’s a Man for a’ That.
2. The Address to a Haggis – a poem written by Burns – is given with appropriate flourish, cutting open the haggis at the appropriate time, followed by a Toast to the Haggis.
3. A knowledgeable person gives the Immortal Memory (a tribute to Robert Burns).
4. A Toast is made to the Lassies – outrageous, hilarious but gracious to the ladies (Burns was quite fond of the lassies).
5. A reply is given by a lassie.
6. The Selkirk Grace is said.
7. The haggis is piped back to the kitchen and then served, usually with champit tatties an’ bashed neeps (potatoes and turnips).

To some, haggis may look and taste foul. Before you judge it, you should try it.

Perhaps Burns' best known poem / song is Auld Lang Syne heard and sung at the end of the year in many countries or during graduation time in Japan.

If you are interested in attending a Burns' Night in Tokyo, I found one coming February 23 (hmm...). The price is more than a little steep for my Scots blood.

If you would like a lesson and key visual on Haggis, email me and I will forward the lesson to you as a PDF.