Robert Burns Supper

"SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010

PROMISES TA BE A NICHT YE WILL LANG RRREMEMBERR"

When The Bellingham Highland Games Association gathers at 6:00 p.m., we will be joined by our friends, families, neighbors and new acquaintances, dressed in their Tartan finery, to celebrate Robert Burns' 251st birthday in Northwood Hall, with a traditional Scottish feast, entertainment and fellowship.

The feast will include items such as Baron of Beef, Fresh fish from the Sea, Tossed Salad, Haggis, Bashed Neeps, Chappit Tatties and maybe The Queen's Own Trifle for desert. The delectable feast will bring you to your feet with shouts of "Gie her a Haggis".
(Menu subject to change)

The Burns Supper will be topped off with an outstanding evening of entertainment featuring a Silent Auction; Door Prizes; Pipe bands; Traditional Highland Dancing; Highland Country Dancing; Ulian Pipes; songs of Scotland and Burns; and much more.

This will truly be a "nicht ye will lang rrrememberr", with a great feast, great entertainment and an opportunity to wear your kilt, Balmoral, Glengarry, plaidie, tartan and Scottish smile of satisfaction.

Won't you join the Bellingham Highland Games Assoc. and your friends on January 30, 2010? Tickets will be limited, so please purchase them early. They can be purchased for only $35.00 each this year (a real Scottish bargain) through The BHGA.

Burns Suppers

Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Ayrshire on the 25th January 1759. Every year in and around the 25th January the world celebrates the life and work of the most famous of all Scottish poets, Robert Burns 'The Bard' (1759-1796) by having Burns Suppers.  Every Burns Supper has its own special form and flavour, but they all share the common purpose of honouring the Bard. They range from extremely formal occasions to informal rave ups of drunkards and louts, they all follow the same basic principles, the eating of a Scottish meal (Haggis, Mince, Tatties and Neeps),  the drinking of barrel loads of Scotch whisky, and the recitation of Burn's Songs and Poetry.

No Burns Supper would be complete without a piper piping in the haggis. Whether it be in South Africa, Hong Kong, Canada, or Russia a piper is an essential part of any Burns Supper. The Piper will lead the procession of the haggis into the room, which will be on a tray carried by Poosie Nancy (She was the owner of a pub that Burns attended which was frequented by beggars), the Haggis will be led to a table, where the address to the Haggis will take place, "To a Haggis" will be read by the chairman or a previously designated reciter. A whisky is offered to the Piper and the Reciter, (It is somewhat of a tradition that the Piper slings back the whisky down his throat in one gulp, all eyes are on his glass, we don't disappoint here) This scene is the most important part of any Burns Supper, the audience will lap up the atmosphere, the piper then leads the procession back out of the hall, then dinner can be served.

The Piper can play a selection of Burns work on the bagpipe later on in the night after all the formal speeches are finished and the crowd have had a dram or three. This will really get the audience buzzing, the Piper can stick to playing selections of Burn's work or we can play other Scottish or modern melodies.

The traditional end to any Burns night is the song "Auld Lang Syne", this is a great sentimental Scottish song, it is sung by everyone in the room, often grouped together in a big circle on the dance floor. This is a great emotional moment to bring the piper in,  you can either have the piper lead the song, then stop for the crowd to start singing, or conversely have the piper finish the song off. This really will be a stirring, lasting memory of the night for the guests, when they wake up with their "sare heids" in the morning.

Need a glossary?

Robert Burns Links

Robert Burns Tribute by Scotland On Line

Mr Lindsay Grieve's CHAMPION HAGGIS

THE BARD (Your Complete Guide)