On 25 January, I was lucky enough to attend an incredibly special Burns Supper in Scotland, along with my husband, Ian. It was held in the cottage in Alloway where Robert Burns was born and which was also the site of the world’s first Burns Supper in 1801, the fifth anniversary of his death.
Since then, Burns Suppers have been held around the world. This is a unique legacy. No other poet is feted across the world on his birthday, and it is all spontaneous and open to everyone. The Scottish Parliament considers the celebration of Burns Night every year to be a key cultural and heritage event. Burns Suppers can be held in army mess halls, private homes, Scottish clubs and in castles – there is no restriction on venue. Typically, a Burns Supper includes the piping in of the guests, serving of soup followed by the piping in of the haggis, tatties and neeps (turnips) are served along with plenty of whisky and the Address to the Haggis is recited. There is also the ‘Immortal Memory’, a speech in praise of the Bard and his incredible legacy.
Attending this incredibly special Burns Supper made for one of the most memorable nights of my life. My husband Ian hired a kilt for the occasion, I had a tartan cape, and we arrived at the Burns Supper on a frosty night but felt grateful to be there at all, as Storm Éowyn had ripped through that part of Scotland only the day before, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The thirty guests were piped in to the cottage, enjoyed a delicious dinner (the haggis, served like a gateau with layers of tatties and neeps on top, and a whisky sauce around it, was really tasty), and listened to absolutely superb speeches. There was an ‘Ode to Burns’, of course the Ode to the Haggis was recited with aplomb, there was a ‘Letter from America’, the ‘Immortal Memory’ and then a thanks to all the speakers at the end. The music was amazing – a singer who made me cry with his glorious renditions of My Love is Like a Red Red Rose and Ae Fond Kiss, and a fiddler who played a fiddle that Burns himself played. The Gregg Fiddle usually lives in the Burns Museum, but was brought out that day to be played by one of only three musicians in Scotland permitted to play it. Hearing some of the 360 songs that Burns wrote being played on that beautiful instrument was an incredible treat. There were recitations of poems, jokes, fabulous company, and an almost electric atmosphere. What a privilege to sit in the simple cottage where the Bard was born and celebrate his 266th birthday. We ended with all singing Auld Lang Syne.
I now have a problem. Any Burns Supper after that one will be an anti-climax. I just don’t have enough superlatives to describe it all. I have been a longtime Burns fan, but the wonderful evening I have just enjoyed has made me even more passionate about the man whose birthday is celebrated everywhere. Did you know that there are more statues of Burns than of any other writer?
I felt so fortunate to attend such an amazing literary event. It made me proud of my Scottish heritage, it made me worship Burns even more than I did before, and it gave me a night I will remember and treasure for the rest of my life.
I discuss Burns’ life story and his legacy in a video talk I recorded a few years ago – you might like to watch it? Special price in February.
ON SALE – just $4.00
Have you visited visited the Burns Birthplace Museum? Have you attended a Burns Supper? Please let me know your thoughts in a comment.
Selected links for relevant websites, books, movies, videos, and more. Some of these links lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
Celebrating Burns Night
Undiscovered Scotland: Address to the Haggis
Poetry Foundation: My Love is Like a Red Red Rose
Poetry Foundation: Ae Fond Kiss
Robert Burns Country
Scottish Poetry Library: Robert Burns
Poetry Foundation: Robert Burns
Susannah Fullerton: Robert Burns, a video talk
Susannah Fullerton: Robert Burns, To a Mouse
Susannah Fullerton: Auld Lang Syne is published
Susannah Fullerton: Visit Burns locations on my Literary Tour of Scotland
Susannah Fullerton: Robert Burns dies
Susannah Fullerton: Robert Burns Whisky
Susannah Fullerton: O My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose
YouTube: A playlist for Robert Burns
Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns
Malvina Yock
What a very, very special night! How absolutely thrilling for you and your husband, Susannah. I well remember visiting the Burns Centre, and how impactful it was, and lovely.
Judith Smith
Susannah,
how i enjoyed yourletter about the Burns night and how i envied you .
Growing up in Qld we went to Burns nights with our Grandmother – her son in law my father used to say her accent was stronger when she died than when she came here and i can believe that ! I treasure several early books she brought out with her over 100 years ago.
Great photosin your tartans.Looking forward to your next letter
Susannah Fullerton
My husband’s grandmother also came out from Scotland and kept her strong Scottish accent all her life. My husband was thinking of ehr as we attended the Burns Supper. It was so wonderful to be there in the cottage, but I fear it might have spoiled my for any future Burns Suppers as it was jsut so perfect in every way. I will keep reading and loving Burns though!
Donna Fletcher Crow
Thank you so much for sharing this, Susannah! Lovely picture of you an Ian! We once had a Burns night supper in our home with family and friends. Our son did the Ode to the Haggis. This year my Canadian granddaughters danced at a Burns Night supper on Thetis Island near Victoria. Truly around the world!
Donna Fletcher Crow
PS I forgot to mention that I attended a Burns Night Supper at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh–they’re all great–but I do think your experience ha to be the ultimate!
Penny Morris
2 year ago I held a Burns Night dinner with family and friends. Such fun. I was able to source a haggis from a local butcher but enjoyed researching ways to serve it ( I considered the Princess Diana version but stuck to an original sauce) and then made a raspberry cranachan trifle for dessert. With a few whiskies and a recording of the piping and ode, it made for a fun and memorable evening.
Faye Hope-Allan
Susannah , how we , so , enjoyed your description of the Burns’s celebration ! It brought back memories of our Scottish tour with you . I’ll never forget Tam O Shanter . I love your Scottish , influenced,outfit.
Susannah Fullerton
Faye, it really was one of the ebst nights ever. I’m glad you have such happy memories of our tour. Scotland is such a fabulous country! Hope to see you at the enxt JASA meeting.
Helen Gentle
Oh Susannah! How wonderful! We have been to the museum, but not to their Burns Night. I celebrated Burns Night at home by making cullen skink; haggis, tatties and neeps, stacked in a tower, with whisky sauce and finished with cranachan. I read the Ode to the Haggis (very poorly). Sadly no piper 🙁
I, too, am very proud of my Scottish heritage.
You will long treasure the experience. Thanks for sharing.
Helen