"O Scotia! My dear, my native soil! For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent." - Robert Burns
We Scots love our traditions. In fact we
are famous for it. That ingrained national pride is often the envy of the
world, or so WE like to think. Whether we’re strutting around in kilts, busking
with our bagpipes, or singing a well-known Scots tune at every opportunity we
get – we are proud of our heritage. Therefore, it comes as little surprise that
with Burns Night fast approaching this weekend, us Scots will be throwing
ourselves into it with all the gusto only a Scotsman (or woman) can muster.
Burns Night is just one of many Scottish
traditions, and one of the most prominent in the cultural calendar. It is a
celebration of the life and poetry of Scots bard Robert or ‘Robbie/Rabbie’
Burns. It is a tradition that has been upheld by the nation since the 18th
century, and usually takes place on Robert Burns’ birthday - January 25th.
So how exactly do you celebrate Burns
night? As a long-established Scottish company that values tradition, we have
compiled the four main points of Burns night and written a short guide to each.
Follow these steps, and you’ll be celebrating the evening like a true Scot this weekend!
What to Wear
Tartan is of course essential. If your
family name has a clan tartan that’s definitely a plus, otherwise there are
thousands of generic tartans to choose from. The Burns clan tartan is also a
popular choice. Once you’ve decided on your tartan, how to wear it is up to
you.
Ladies, you can give your chosen tartan a ‘wee’
nod by opting for tartan accessories such as a brooch, scarf, hat, bag or shoes
- or if you really want to go all out, donning a full tartan dress and traditional
sash will certainly do the trick.
Men will usually opt for the national
Scottish dress of a kilt and ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ jacket. Full tartan suits
and waistcoats are also a good choice. A more subtle approach, however, could
be a tartan tie, tartan cufflinks or tartan scarf.
What to drink
Robert Burns was not only famous for his
poetry but also for having a penchant for whisky. This well-known taste of his
makes the drink a central part in a Burns celebration. A good Scotch whisky is
not hard to find. Scotch (Scottish) whisky is Scotland’s biggest export. House
names such as Glenfiddich and Bowmore will always prove popular, but have a
look at a recent article by news site, Business Insider, on the best Scotch Whiskies in the world for more ideas.
If you’re not a fan of whisky, a bottle of red
wine is a good alternative. A non – alcoholic suggestion would be the Scottish
national soft drink Irn-Bru.
What to Eat
One of Burns’ most famous pieces of work is
his Address to a Haggis, and it is this poem that dinner is centered around. The haggis is
presented to the table, or ‘piped in’ by a fanfare of bagpipes, the table will
recite the Burns’ poem and then cut the haggis on cue with, “his knife see
rustic-labour dight”. Alternatively, you can recite only the first two lines of
the poem, “fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, great chieftain o the
pudding-race!”
As a proud producer of traditional Scottish
meat, Speyside Specialities works hard to deliver fresh, quality and authentic haggis.
We are honoured to count the ‘chieftain o the pudding-race’ in our diverse
selection of products.
The haggis is served with ‘neaps’ (turnip
or swede for those non-scots) and ‘tatties’ (potatoes – usually mashed). A
starter of ‘cock-a-leekie’ (chicken and leek) soup and a dessert of ‘clootie dumpling’
(rich fruit
pudding) or ‘tipsy laird’ (whisky and usually raspberry trifle) are also an
option.
Entertainment
As a notorious ladies man, the ‘address to
the Lassies’ is a Burns tradition where the men make a toast to the women in
their life. The women will then respond with their own toast in the ‘address to
the Laddies’. A recital of your favourite Burns poem is the perfect way to end
the evening, with most choosing the world famous Burns song ‘Auld Lang Syne’,
which is also regularly sung on Hogmanay or New Years Eve.
No comments:
Post a Comment