When is Burns Night 2018? What do you eat on Burns Night and why is it celebrated?
BURNS night celebrates the life of Scottish poet Robert Burns and falls at the end of January every year, but what is the exact date and how do people celebrate Burns night?
The night celebrates the life and work of one of Britain’s most famous poets Robert Burns.
The celebration started after the death of the Scottish bard in 1796, who is best known for the poem Auld Lang Syne which is often sung on New Year’s Eve.
When is Burns Night 2018?
Burns Night was first held by his friends on July 21 - the day the poet died - as they wanted to celebrate his career.
However, nowadays Burns night is held every year on January 25, which was his birthday.
This year Burns night falls on a Thursday.
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What do you eat on Burns Night?
Haggis forms the centre of a Burns night supper and is usually the main dish served.
The dish is a type of sausage prepared using a sheep’s stomach stuffed with its own heart, liver and lungs.
When the haggis arrives at the table, the host, or a guest, addresses the haggis by reciting either Robert Burns’ The Selkirk Grace or Address to a Haggis.
The haggis is sliced opened and traditionally served with neeps and tatties (turnips, swedes and potatoes).
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At the end of the Burns’ poem a toast is made - usually with Scotch whiskey - and guests sit down to the meal.
The supper may start with a Scottish soup and ends with dessert which may be cranachan (a mixture of whipped cream, whisky, honey and fresh raspberries, with toasted oatmeal) or tipsy laird (whisky trifle), followed by a cheeseboard with bannocks (oatcakes).
During traditional and formal Scottish celebrations the meal is often presented with bagpipes playing in the background.
Scottish whisky is the obvious drink of choice during the evening, and there are usually several toasts throughout the evening. The night ends with guests holding hands singing Auld Lang Syne.
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Why are the speeches Burns Night?
A piper generally greets guests when they arrive at more formal gatherings and the evening traditionally begins with The Selkirk Grace - a well-known thanksgiving said before meals, using the Scots language.
In more formal settings, a set of bagpipes is played when the haggis is brought in on a big plate and a tribute is paid to the Scottish dish with the ‘Address to a Haggis.’
The Immortal memory may be given by the main speaker which is a speech remembering some aspect of Burns’ life or poetry, followed by a Toast to the Lassies - a light hearted view on women given by a male guest which is followed by Reply to the Laddies (the ladies’ chance to respond).
The evening ends by everyone standing, joining hands and singing one of Burns’ most famous poems Auld Lang Syne.