Robert Burns, to those of you who do not know him, was a poet, a farmer, and quite the distinguished and handsome rake. Rabbie, as his closest friends call him (including the WHOLE of Scotland), is perhaps this land's best and most beloved poet. His immortal memory is celebrated each January on the day of his birth--the 25th--or nearabouts to his bday.
The celebration is a rather formalized, but fun affair. I experience two Burns Suppers--both with differing approaches to the itinerary. The first was with the Aberdeen Exchange Club on January 19th , the second with the Edinburgh Exchange Club on January 26th.
There are specific steps to follow: First, a welcome speech from the host, then the "Piping" of the haggis.

(in the absence of a real piper, CD music and/or a faux piper is employed. Thank you for this Gill.)
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Piper Gill. The "bag" is a pillow, but the canter is real. |
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Aberdonian Hostess Diane and Piper Gill |
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Edinburgh hostess Gillian. |
This is the grace with an approximate translation:
The Selkirk Grace
- Some hae meat and canna eat, Some have meat but cannot eat.
- And some wad eat that want it; Some can eat, but do not have it.
- But we hae meat, and we can eat, We have meat and can eat.
- And sae let the Lord be thankit. And so we give thanks for it.
Soup is typically served: Cock-a leekie or Scotch broth, maybe pototo soup. I have tried the first two and they are delicious.
Next there is a poem "To the Haggis." The poem is long and an elaborate and almost silly praising of the main course--but it is taken very seriously. Then a knife is sliced into the haggis and we eat.
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Janice slices the haggis for my Aberdonian supper. |
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The "Great Chieftain o' the Puddin-race!" |
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Sandy knows the poem, but I have a cheat sheet and am still confused. |
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Haggis, neeps, and tatties. |
After supper, next is the Immortal Memory portion of the event. Here is where tales of Rabbie's activities and possibly sex-ploits are shared or some of his poetry is read. According to a Burns (Burness) genealogy website, Robert Burns had a total of twelve children by four women, including his wife. Seven of his children were illegitimate, including the first four born of Jean, his wife, who were legitimized when he married in her 1788. Jean's children, two sets of twins, were born in '86 and '88.
His first child was born in 1785, the last eleven years later in 1796 on the day he was buried--Jean missed that funeral giving birth. That is 12 children in 11 years. He died at the age of 37, must have been due to exhaustion!
The Toast to the Lassies portion of the event follows this bitty eduction about Rabbie's appreciation of the lassies. This toast can be funny or serious--with a leaning toward "roasting" women rather than toasting. The women get a chance for a rebuttal called the Reply to the Toast to the Lassies--and further roasting happens, this time at the expense of men.
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Fulbrighter Jim gets drafted for the Toast to the Lassies. He did a terrific job and even made it a poem! |
Finally, other poems are shared and/or we move to the entertainment portion of the event. In Aberdeen we had a Ceilidh (I got dance lessons) and with the Edinburgh Club, we had a mini-highland games. The many guests at the Edinburgh club included Fulbrighters and Commonwealth Exchangees from Canada and Australia. We were a full house.
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In Aberdeen, Janice tries to teach me the moves to a dance called The Gay Gordons. It involves a lot of spinning and considerable laughter. |
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Australians and Fulbrighters do battle and tug-o-war. |
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The other side sets up in Gillian's back yard. |
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Later Kel (Aussie) and Jim (USA) ready to do the un-highland games event of plastic egg racing...handicapped by big beers. |
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Fulbrighter Christy is focused and fast. |
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Stacy (Fulbright Wife) sprints for the finish. |
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Aussie Brett and son Sid take a turn at the caber toss. |
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I love this picture of Sid Super Caber tossing Kid! |
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The snow attracted some of the wee ones. |
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Sid, Shane, and Gloria Jean (I think that is Miss Pink's name) |
Celebration of Burns is not the only fun I have had lately. Lately, we have had SUN!
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Jan 27, at the Dunfermline Abbey and Palace (the four sides say King Robert The Bruce) |
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Cara and I posing as lovely statues |
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Carter makes a great statue, too |
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Stained glass from inside the Abbey |
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A view from the garden |
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With the Pielow family (Stacy, Carter, and Cara) at Pittencrieff Park looking up at the Dunfermline Abbey. Super thanks to Stacy and Jim for welcoming me to their house. |
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Evening drive to Bathgate on Feb 1 |
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A gorgeous sunset on the drive to Bathgate to visit Chrisy. |
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William Wallace statue at Stirling Castle |
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Stirling Castle |
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The statue is talking to the gargoyle. |
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On the ramparts of Stirling Castle. The color of the great hall (behind me) would have been the color of the entire structure in its day. The color is called Royal Gold. |
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Detail of the William Wallace Statue against a clear blue sky |
You're ticking all the boxes for total immersion into all things Scottish-keep it
ReplyDeleteup!
Your exchange buddy (formely of Dunfermline)