Friday, January 25, 2019

Burns Supper

Daddy Steve: January 25th is the birthday of the great Scottish poet & lyricist Robert Burns (1721-1784).  Burns is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland.  His work is admired around the world, and has provided creative inspiration to many other artists, including novelist John Steinbeck and singer/songwriter Bob Dylan.  Burns is perhaps best known for penning the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne, the song many of us sing on New Year's Eve.

The kids thought it would be nice to honor Burns this year with a traditional 'Burns Supper.'  After all, there is actual Scottish blood in the Gregoropolis household; Daddy John's Scots ancestral names include Saunders and Shand.

Beyond this, the kids simply thought it all provided a good excuse for a party!

Holly Belle: It gives us a chance to show off our tartan.
Wesley: Aye, lassie.

The kids started off by researching the menu of a Burns Supper...and quickly concluded that sometimes it's okay to break with tradition...

Daphne: That's what haggis is?!?  Oh, my.
Frederick: Perhaps we should just stick with beans on toast?
Daphne: Oh, yes!  I like that idea.
Frederick: We can still make cock-a-leekie soup.
Luke: And don't forget shortbread cookies for dessert!

They had to improvise a little with the music as well.

Stephen Orange: That's great, but can you make it sound more like a bagpipe?
Gavin: No problem!

The supper then began with Patrick making some opening remarks and giving the Selkirk Grace.

Patrick:
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!

Next, the 'Address to a Haggis' was performed.  In this case, it was an address to beans on toast and was basically ad-libbed.

Everyone:  All hail the beans on toast!

After dinner, there was the traditional 'Address to the Lassies'...


...followed by the 'Reply to the Laddies.'


Pete Dakota recited Burns' poem 'To A Louse'

Pete Dakota:
Oh, would some Power give us the gift
To see ourselves as others see us!
It would from many a blunder free us,
And foolish notion:
What airs in dress and gait would leave us,
And even devotion!

Sebastian and Valerie performed the song 'A Red, Red Rose'

Valerie:
O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly spring in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune

And the lovely evening concluded with everyone joining hands to sing 'Auld Lang Syne'

Everyone:
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
and auld lang syne?


8 comments:

Sasha's Vintage Boutique said...

wow, they really studied all the traditions! I don't blame them for passing on the haggis! Shortbread for dessert is yummy, tho. Gavin is quite the optimist (or incredible talent!) if he can made a clarinet sound like a bagpipe!

Jodi Campbell said...

Beautiful bunch of lassies and laddies! I love reading your blog!

Dee said...


I have to say that's I'd have gone for the Beans on Toast instead of the Haggis! Wow and shortbread for dessert yummy!

Looks like a very wonderful Burns's night was celebrated in the traditional manner.

It's always good to party to celebrate Robbie Burns and for at least one of the boys to flash the knees in a kilt ;)

Gregor Daddies said...

Dee-- Pete Dakota loves to wear his kilt any chance he gets! Alas, because it's been so cold here, he changed into long pants once the supper was over. John

SimplySasha said...

I have just tasted Haggis (thought I ought to now I am a Native!) Jesus! I can't get used to eating something that smells like meaty mothballs....but Scottish shortbread is too die for :)

Serenata said...

We missed this post somehow! Didn't they do well?! What a great evening they had. Passing on the haggis would have been done here as too. We are shortbread lovers here as well. We believe that my Great Grandmother was Scottish. Some day I hope to have the time to do some research to find out if this is so. We got married in Scotland 😊

Ginger said...

A wonderful tribute to Robert Burns and a most entertaining post. I have Scottish background too and a bit of shortbread sounds like a wonderful treat for everyone! 😊 xxx

Kendal said...

I can DO Haggis in small portions along with mashed potatoes and plenty of fresh greens. I buy it a couple of times a year from Marks and Spencer.
Sounds as though they all had a good evening celebrating Burns night in good old Scottish style.