There’s a chance to toast the memory of Robert Burns in style this weekend, thanks to the VisitScotland Information Centre (VIC) in Aberdeen.
It has teamed up with Glen Garioch distillery at Oldmeldrum to hold a whisky-tasting session at the VIC, 23 Union Street, Aberdeen, from 11am-3pm this Saturday, January 25.
Visitors can sample single malts from Glen Garioch and learn more about the distillery tours on offer, plus sample local baking courtesy of Dean’s which has a centre in Huntly where visitors can see shortbread being made.
Other Burns-related events taking place around Scotland include:
The Big Burns Supper, various venues in Dumfries (January 24-26). The biggest annual Burns night celebration, it includes live music from Big Country, theatre and numerous street events. See http://2014.bigburnssupper.com
From now until Saturday, January 25, Alloway, the birthplace of Robert Burns, is running a festival celebrating his life – details at www.alloway1759.com
Until May 18, the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, is hosting a free exhibition highlighting outstanding achievements by Scotland and Scots, including Burns. Discover more at www.nls.uk/exhibitions
Also in Edinburgh, The Scottish Storytelling Centre has a packed programme of events celebrating Robert Burns, including storytelling, music, songs and haggis.
Running until January 26, the full programme can be found at www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk
Robert Burns
Born in Alloway, Ayrshire, on January 25, 1759, Robert Burns was a passionate, inspiring pioneer of his generation and is regarded as the national poet of Scotland. The Bard is famous for his political views, revolutionary behaviour, his love for the lassies and, of course, his world-famous songs and poems including Auld Lang Syne, Tam O’ Shanter and To a Mouse.
Did you know…
Although he was only 37 when he died, Robert Burns produced more than 550 songs and poems. That’s around 25 works for each year of his adult creative life.
Burns’s poetry is written in Auld Scots, the language prevalent in the Scottish lowlands until English was adopted around 1700.
A notorious womaniser, Burns is reported to have fathered 12 children.
Haggis became well known, and is now considered Scotland’s national dish, thanks to Burns’s poem Address to a Haggis.
Speaking of haggis…
Running your own Burns night? Here’s your handy guide to the format of the evening.
Poems
Some functions have guest orators who might offer Tam O’ Shanter, Holy Willie’s Prayer or The Cotter’s Saturday Night. The Address to the Haggis is essential (verses 1, 2, 3 and 8). The other poems used reflect the kind of people attending the supper.
The format
The main format is generally:
A chairman to oversee proceedings
Toasts:
The Queen, occasionally omitted
The Immortal Memory, the main item
An address to the Lassies
Reply by a Lassie
The Guests
Additional Toasts:
To the Town/District/Region/City with a reply by an appropriate official.
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.
Recital of the Burns poem To a Haggis
Whisky and dress code
There is always whisky to toast the Immortal Memory, with a dram for the piper who pipes in the ceremonial haggis carried by the chef for the Address to the Haggis.
Food
Traditionally, the menu follows:
Soup such as Cock-a-leekie or Scotch Broth
Haggis with Champit Tatties (mashed potatoes) and Neeps (mashed turnip).
A main course of beef or steak.
Bannocks an’ Kebbuck (cheese and biscuits or oatcakes)