Burns Night – a night for all Scots

Scotland celebrates much of the same holidays as the rest of the UK, but there is one, which is completely original – this is Burns Night, one of the most important and fun nights of the year!

Let’s try to find out… why it is called Burns Night? what people celebrate on this night? when Scots celebrate this holiday? what they do? what they eat? what the star-attraction of this night is?

On Burns Night Scottish people celebrate the life of Robert Burns.

Robert Burns is Scotland's most famous poet. In Scotland he is known by many names including "Rabbie Burns", "The Ploughman Poet" and "The Bard".

Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759, in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Burns’ father was a farmer, and his wife was a daughter of a farmer. Burns received little formal education, but luckily his father was self- educated and taught his children. Later Robert would change the spelling of his surname from "Burness" to "Burns". The house where Robert was born still stands, and was built by his father William Burness.

Around the 25 January, the birth date of Robert Burns, celebrations of his life take place. These celebrations take the form of a meal. So what should you expect at a Burns Night supper? Well, it might be formal or informal, but it will always be entertaining!

First of all, the host says a few words to welcome everyone to the supper and opens the meal with reading of The Selkirk Grace. The Selkirk Grace Some hae meat and canna eat, and some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit. Заздравный тост в переводе С.Я. Маршака У которых есть, что есть, - те подчас не могут есть, А другие могут есть, да сидят без хлеба. А у нас тут есть, что есть, да при этом есть, чем есть, - Значит, нам благодарить остается небо!

Guests then stand as a bagpiper pipes music to welcome the star attraction of the supper – the haggies, a sheep’s stomach stuffed with the sheep’s heart, liver and lungs.

The chairman, or an invited guest, then recites Robert Burns' poem, "Address To A Haggis". The haggis is then cut and served to the guests.

Haggis is served with ‘tatties and neeps’ (mashed potatoes and turnip). This is accompanied by the traditional starter, Cock-a-leekie (chicken and leek) soup and a traditional Scottish desserts such as sherry trifle or oatcakes.

One of the guests gives a short speech, remembering some aspect of Burns' life or poetry. Everyone drinks a toast to Robert Burns. Then the men drink a toast to the women's health.

The evening always ends with everyone joining hands and singing Burns’ world-famous song ‘Auld Lang Syne’, meaning ‘For Times Gone By’.

The format of the evening has remained very much unchanged since the first such meal, which was held by close friends of Burns, a few years after his death.