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?