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Will you partake? if so where are you?
Obviously I haven't been back to the old country in a while..
I am not Scottish - but I am sure a few Scots can fill you in with more details.
Traditionally, a Haggis is made from the lung, liver, and heart of the sheep. These are mixed with oatmeal and a few spices and stuffed into the sheep's stomach.
[gumbopages.com...]
Sounds really appetizing ... think I'd need a few drinks too :)
They have a reputation for lifting sporans and tossing poles and saying "wee dram"
Most of you will know Robbie Burns as the author of "Auld Lang Syne", the song people sing on new year's eve that no one really understand the lyrics to.
[edited by: Woz at 11:49 am (utc) on Jan. 17, 2006]
[edit reason] Tidying up [/edit]
Toast To The Lasses
The main speech is followed by a more light-hearted address to the women in the audience. Originally this was a thank you to the ladies for preparing the food and a time to toast the 'lasses' in Burns' life. The tone should be witty, but never offensive, and should always end on a concilliatory note.
The turn of the lasses to detail men's foibles. Again, should be humorous but not insulting.
It's light hearted fun and should be taken up by all!
B^>
Rgds
Damon
A while ago, I created the website for my local Burns club here in Alexandria, Scotland. Am I allowed to post the URL for this? (I am biased but I honestly believe that it is one of the most interesting sites on Burns on the Internet.
Burns night is also a night when people pull out Scottish accents no one knew they had.
We don't have to do this in Scotland ;)
(from Robert Burns Poem, Tam O' Shanter)
"But pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flow'r, its bloom is shed; Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white-then melts for ever; Or like the Borealis race, That flit ere you can point their place; Or like the Rainbow's lovely form, Evanishing amid the storm."
Am I allowed to post the URL
Maybe not yerself ;) ..but in the interests of "Celtic solidarity" and promulgation of erudite sites of quality and recognised reference value to the subject [robertburns.org.uk]etc ..
I am biased but I honestly believe that it is one of the most interesting sites on Burns on the Internet.
Had a look ..'tis true otherwise I would not ha' posted a link to it ..
I'll nae be expectin' the five pound note as ye're Scots 'n' all ;)
( thus allying any mods worries 'bout collusion etc ;))
he is my multiple great uncle after all
be prepared to be snipped ( maybe ;)..on account of our delicate sensibilities down here in foo ;)
Why is Burns so Important to many of we Scots?
(This is better answered in a quote from the World Burns Club Website).
"This is possibly the start of the difficult questions, particularly since Burns means so much, to so many people. In simplistic terms Robert Burns is most certainly one of the greatest poets who ever lived, and is hugely "important" for that reason alone……. but the issue is more complex.
Ask anyone outside Scotland, to name "Something representative of Scotland" and you will often hear things like - "St Andrew, Haggis, Whisky, Bagpipes, Braveheart (!), Kilts, Heather, Sean Connery (!) and of course Robert Burns"
Burns therefore has been adopted as a National Symbol of Scotland……which may in some ways seem appear strange. It must be recognised however (and this is a personal & perhaps controversial opinion) that the "Scots" as a nation, identify greatly with "Burns the Man" It could be argued that our cultural history & heritage has been founded on :- perpetual struggle, conflict, persecution, comradeship, nationalism, and great victories in the face of adversity…….all of which may have contributed to the modern day perception that Scots are :- rugged fighters, standing up for our rights, humorous, friendly, fiery yet gentle, passionate, and incredibly proud.
It can be seen therefore, that in many ways Robert Burns was and still is representative of these characteristics….. as a Poet, in his Writings, as a Person and as a Scot. His fame, as one of the world's greatest poets, makes these points more obvious.
It is no wonder that he has been adopted as Scotland's most "Famous Son"….. It is no wonder that the Scottish Nation has elevated his memory to being a Cultural Symbol of Scotland, …and it is no wonder that millions of Scots & descendants of Scots throughout the world recognise this too".
I found a wee story on the subject of Haggis, Im only posting a wee bit of it, but sure its not hard to find. I really love the story, makes me laugh!
A haggis is a small animal native to Scotland. Well when I say animal, actually it's a bird with vestigial wings - like the ostrich. Because the habitat of the haggis in exclusively mountainous, and because it is always found on the sides of Scottish mountains, it has evolved a rather strange gait. The poor thing has only three legs, and each leg is a different length - the result of this is that when hunting haggis, you must get them on to a flat plain - then they are very easy to catch - they can only run round in circles.After catching your haggis, and dispatching it in time honoured fashion, it is cooked in boiling water for a period of time, then served with tatties and neeps (and before you ask, that's potatoes and turnips).
The story is mostly correct but the haggis, being birdlike, actually has two legs the larger of which being the only one that is any good for eating.
They prefer the deep-fried Mars bar
This boost in traffic is caused by people researching for all the Burns suppers that are held throughout the world. I get traffic from everywhere. I even got one from Mountain View this evening. Do Google have a Burns Supper?
(Perhaps they were looking for inspiration for a Burns theme for the logo on 25 January :o)
haggis, being birdlike,
Just noticed you neglected to mention the distinctive tartan plumage ( sort of spotted Mcleoud ) and the fact it lives exclusively on a diet of shortbread and whisky ..and lays golfballs..
The call of the bird a plaintive " ah'v no had ma tea " can be heard outside many a house or bar on the 25th ( breeding season from late Jan to Shrove Tuesday ) ..
A related species inhabits industrial areas ..plumage dull grey and olive drab ..and the call of "gieusacuggyweelyahuh" ..distinguishes the latter ..
..it also comes "pre fried" ..in lard filtered ( first pressings ) from non organically raised sporrans ..
It considers itself to be rather tough eating ..;)
Cross breeding of the two results in a "hughie" ..which nests in porcelain .
...here in Alexandria, Scotland
...where my younger brother was born..!
I was always told that the best time to hunt 'Haggi' (plural of Haggis?) is if there is a "braw bricht moonlicht nicht the nicht!"
Syzygy
It has now gathered momentum and I no longer feel alone. It is bigger than I really thought.
My own personal Burn's Night is for no other reason than a 'men's night out', and plenty of whisky, a 'different' menu and good company. It just happens to be the first real socal event after Christmas.
I have another confession, I don't celebrate St.George's Day and I am a full blooded Englishmen ... but you can rest assured if I lived as an ex-pat in an other country, St.George would be on my social list!
[edited by: lawman at 10:42 am (utc) on Jan. 19, 2006]
(Not good for the waistline so I don't eat it very often).
Regarding Burns, I had some modern books on him but when I was doing my club website I started buying old ones on eBay. I was amazed at what I managed to pick up. I have some books that are in great condition and written by people who lived at the same time as him. Very interesting.
It could be argued that our cultural history & heritage has been founded on :- perpetual struggle, conflict, persecution, comradeship, nationalism, and great victories in the face of adversity…….all of which may have contributed to the modern day perception that Scots are :- rugged fighters, standing up for our rights, humorous, friendly, fiery yet gentle, passionate, and incredibly proud.
You can see a lot of these traits from some of these posts!
I hear they are planning on a massive raid in the Lowlands. Their target is an isolated hovel that could be an undercover haggis breeder.
I think they will try to gather up the haggis from the wild and release them into captivity.
'men's night out', and plenty of whisky
Plenty of whisky is an understatement. My best Haggis/Burns night was when I woke up next to an amazing lady with her fiance in the next room! LOL, terrible (perhaps) but true.
What surprised me the most was the the British Embassy served Black Label, now any who knows their whisky knows that it could have been a real Scotch.
But perhaps with the amounts served Single Quality Malts was not an option.
I said I'd like a nice single malt whisky please.
He said, "have a large one" and I replied " a large single malt would be very nice thank you "
He said ..."make up your mind, a single or a large?"
Any clues that our new landlord isn't a whisky person?
(It all make perfect sense to Scottish bar people).
