Robert "Rabbie" Burns is considered the national poet of Scotland. He wrote poems in English and Scottish in the late 1700s. This was unique because most poems were written in English, and therefore unable to be read by common Scottish folk.
Every year on his birthday, January 25th, the people of Scotland have a Burns Night to celebrate his works and eat traditional Scottish food. Here is a guide to hosting your own Burns Night!
Order of Events
The host will start by saying the Selkirk Grace. "Some hae meat and cannot eat. Some cannot eat that want it: But we hae meat and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit."
Next, the haggis is presented to the sound of bagpipes and the host reads Address to a Haggis. The group toasts the haggis and then the food is served. Traditional foods include neeps (mashed turnips), tatties (mashed potatoes), shortbread, cock-a-leekie soup and cranachan.
After everyone has eaten, several of Burns works are recited and may include Toast to the Lassies.
The night is ended with the guest thanking everyone for attending and everyone stands and sings Auld Lang Syne.
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