”Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang ‘s my arm.”
“The Enduring Legacy: Celebrating the Timeless Significance of Robert Burns”
Burns Night is an annual commemoration dedicated to Scotland’s renowned poet, Robert Burns. Born in Ayr, Burns’s literary contributions extend beyond poetry to include numerous songs and letters, notably the well-known ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ often sung during New Year celebrations. His extensive body of work encompasses over 550 poems and songs, solidifying his posthumous recognition as ‘Scotland’s national poet’ or the ‘National Bard of Ayrshire.’
The inaugural Burns Night occurred in 1801, with enduring traditions that persist today. Celebrated on 25 January, the anniversary of Burns’s birth, the Burns Supper is an evening devoted to honoring his life and literary legacy.
Its inception traces back to a gathering of nine close friends of Burns, who assembled to commemorate the fifth anniversary of his passing. Hosted at Burns Cottage in Alloway, the event featured a delectable haggis meal, recitations of Burns’s works, and a speech paying homage to the esteemed ‘Bard.’
The success of this evening prompted the decision to make it an annual celebration in honor of Burns’s birthday.
Central to any Burns Supper is the haggis, a savory pudding composed of sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs, blended with onion, oatmeal, suet, stock, and spices, traditionally encased in the animal’s stomach. Served alongside mashed turnips (neeps) and potatoes (tatties), the culinary experience is complemented by the finest Scotch Whisky. For those with different culinary preferences, alternatives such as Cullen Skink soup or vegetarian variations of haggis are available.
The event typically begins with the host presenting the “Address to a Haggis,” a poem written by Burns to express his admiration for this dish. This poem holds the prestigious position of being the opening item in the Burns’ Suppers program. The haggis is ceremoniously brought to the table accompanied by a piper playing the bagpipes, known as ‘Piping in the haggis.’ A chosen guest recites the poem before the haggis is theatrically cut with a ceremonial knife. The remainder of the evening unfolds with dancing and the enjoyment of traditional Scottish music.
This time around we will recommend the Spirit of Scotland Pipe tobacco to compliment your Burns Night.
Gawith Hoggarth’s Spirit of Scotland delivers precisely as anticipated: a gentle, richly aromatic blend infused with the flavor and scent of whisky. Following the pattern of other American-style aromatics, this blend is anchored in a base of double-fermented Black Cavendish, accented by the sweetness of Virginia gold leaf and the mellow notes of Burley.
