What on earth is Burns Night?

Given our Scottish roots, we thought it important that we cleared a few things up about what on earth is burns night? Our team north of the border pulled together a handy guide so you aren’t caught out this Thursday

When is Burns Night?

Burns night falls on the same day each year, January 25th. This is the day that Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns came into the world. Robert Burns was the mastermind behind the New Years classic, Auld Lang Syne – a song you have most likely sung whilst a touch too inebriated

What is Burns Night?

Burns night is simply a celebration of all things Rabbie Burns, most notably a night of eating, dressing up all Scottish and dabbling in some speeches written by Burns himself.

What do you eat on Burns Night? What is Haggis neeps and tatties?

Of course the centrepiece of Burns Night is haggis, a type of sausage prepared in a sheep’s stomach that is minced with onion, oatmeal, suet (raw beef or lamb fat), spices, and salt, mixed with stock. On top of this expect to chomp on some potato wafers, cranachan and Scotch!

What to expect in our stores

We have chosen a special Scotch for each of our stores for you to enjoy, will you get to enjoy a Benromach, Glenlivet, Aberfeldy or another mystery Scotch. book in now to find out! BOOK NOW

How do the speeches work you say?

The evening traditionally begins with The Selkirk Grace- a well-known thanksgiving said before meals, using the Scots language.

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat

Sae let the Lord be thankit. 

In more formal settings or where a piper or a set of bagpipes is at hand, the haggis is then brought in on a big plate to a soundtrack of pipes, so call upon some friends who can play the pipes.

Next you must pay a a special tribute with the ‘Address to The Haggis’ and ‘Toast to the Haggis’ before you get underway. From here some additional speeches should be carried out:

• The Immortal Memory
• Toast to the Lassies
• Reply to the Laddies

Finally, the host will give a vote of thanks but joining hands and singing Auld Land Syne to bring the evening to an end.

When and why did Burns Night start?

The first burns night started shortly after his death in the late 1700s, on July 21st. The date was changed later to the day of his birth.