Great chieftain o' the puddin-race - it's a Burns Supper

January 22, 2019

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 o' a grace
As lang's my airm.

A simple desire to throw a party in January, to escape the post holiday blues has led me down into a wormhole known as the Burns Supper.

Robert Burns was an 18th century Scottish poet

whose poems are still favorites today. Scots around the world celebrate his birthday (around January 25th) with a Burns Supper, a celebration of his words and things Scottish.

Since I'll take any excuse for a party, especially in January, I thought it would be fun to host one for friends. This way we'd all have a chance to channel our inner Outlander, by wearing kilts and sipping whiskey.

Little did I know that I'd soon be hunting down where to order a haggis from, memorizing the ode to said haggis and saying the Selkirk grace.

A Burns supper starts with a welcome speech, the Selkirk grace. Then a first course, and then the piping of the haggis. A haggis is a uniquely Scottish dish - a sort of sausage. An address to the haggis is given, along with toasts.

Various course and dishes follow, along with more toasts, including an address to the lassies. This is usually followed by an answering address to the lads.

And then finally, when all is said and done, it's time for one last drink and the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

Check out our tatties and neeps recipe.