Burns Supper

      Wow, it’s already time for OUR 2nd Annual Burns Supper! I can’t believe we have been here over a year and a half! They say time flies when you are having fun!

Here is our invitation to this festive event!

It was held at Ardoe House, which is worth noting, as it is a beautiful venue.

Ardoe House – dates back to 1878. It was the mansion home of a wealthy Aberdeen merchant. Its design was inspired by Balmoral Castle, the official residence of the Royal Family. Some believe it is haunted??

The Hotel has a white lady ghost who is thought to be Katherine Ogston, the wife of Alexander Milne Ogston who was a soap merchant, who purchased the mansion house in 1839. There is a portrait of Katherine on the main stairs and this is where her ghost has been seen.
Others have reported that the ghost is a daughter of a former owner who was raped and became pregnant. She later killed herself and her child.

The “believing” part is up to you…;)

Mark and I ready to leave…just waiting to be picked up.

           Notice Mark’s tartan bow tie? He also has the cuff links and I have the matching stole/shawl. We had them made by a Tartan Shop in Glasgow. It is the Ancient Royal Stewart tartan, which is the tartan of the royal House of Stewart and it is also the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II.  There are hundreds of tartans…I chose this one because it is VERY “Scottish”, as it is one of the oldest tartans on record and has so much history to it!

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     Burns Suppers have been a part of Scottish culture for over 200years! They are held in honour of Robert Burns, Scotland’s best-loved and national Bard. They are a night to celebrate his life and works.

     Robert Burns was born on 25th January 1759 in Alloway  Scotland and died on the 21 July 1796. Even though his life was short, the impression he made on the people of Scotland has been long lasting!  The first recorded Burns Supper was in Alloway in 1801, when a group of his friends gathered. It was not held in January, as they are now, but rather in July, marking the 5th anniversary of his death. Some of the traditions that grew up from that very first Burns Supper~ haggis as the main course and whiskey with which to mark the many toasts! The haggis was “addressed” at that very first meal, after all, Robert Burns himself provided the perfect words with which to do so in his poem “Address to a Haggis”.

Here is a link to the poet’s original version of that poem and along side is modern English translation.

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/address_to_a_haggis.htm

The experience of a true Scottish Burns Supper is fantastic! It is filled with such pride and tradition. I have a video to give you a “taste” of this great event.

First the Haggis is “piped in”… 

Then the Haggis is “Addressed”….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8l2m3_2Xjg 

There are several toasts, obligatory speeches (which are great fun to hear, full of humour, as Burns would have loved) all in Burns’ appreciation before the meal begins. They are “The Immortal Memory” of Rabbie Burns (as he is referred to often), “To the Lassies”, “Response from the Lassies” and, finally,  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.

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The meal is full of tradition, too! Haggis, neeps and tatties is what it is all about! And if you are wondering, yes, we have had haggis and we really like it!  The haggis, accompanied by champit tatties and bashed neeps (mashed potatoes and turnip/swedes), can be either the main course or the starter.

The menu at our Burns Supper:

Arbroath Smokies Pate with oatcakes

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, with a whiskey sauce

Angus Beef with Rumblethumps (potato and cabbage – real yummy!) and veg

I think the name of our dessert was a Tipsy Laird, but I can’t remember.

This was all washed down (at varying intervals) with great wines, liqueurs and fine Scottish whiskey! The meal is closed with tea, coffee and tablet, a traditional Scottish sweet made from sugar, condensed milk and butter….very good!

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The reciting of “Tam O’Shanter” is a frequent occurrence at Burns Suppers, as it was done at ours. It was written by Burns in1790 and is accepted as one of his finest works and one of the greatest narrative poems in the language. Even though it is a long poem, the “performance” of it is captivating. There is great history to his works. He drew on his childhood memories of people, places and stories told, while living in Ayr on the west coast of Scotland.

Here is a link to the original and a modern English translation of Tam O’Shanter. The site also has lots of other great information on this legendary poet.

http://www.robertburns.org.uk/Assets/Poems_Songs/tamoshanter.htm

Even though you may be thinking…”wow, I never heard of this guy” or “What has he written that I know?”….  Well, the formal part of the evening is brought to a close with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” – a song which is known around the world! It is actually a Scottish Poem written by Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song.

Here is a neat bit of “Auld Lang Syne” explanation. I think you’ll enjoy it…includes fact and humour. Take a peek…

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/newsletter/auld_lang_syne_what_about.htm

The evening also includes a Ceilidh, which is traditional Scottish dancing. It is SO much fun!! Once again just brimming with tradition! FUN!  One of my favorites is Strip the Willow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uew8Y4UXqRw

You have to trust me on this..it really is VERY fun! :)

Well, there you have it, a lesson on a Scottish Burns Supper! I hope it gave you a feel for the real thing. If you ever get the chance to attend one, I highly recommend it! We had great food and great fun! We are already looking forward to next year! God Bless!