Burns Night January 25th

I've heard of Robert Burns and the supper that is held in his memory every year but don't  know all the details. So this year I thought I'd find out a bit more....

Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He was born on January 25, 1759 in Alloway and died on July 21, 1796 in Dumfries.

A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January.

The first supper was held at Burns Cottage by Robert Burns' friends on 21 July 1801, the fifth anniversary of his death. They are still held regularly today.
Burns suppers may be formal or informal. Both typically include haggis, Scotch whisky, and the recitation of Burns's poetry.
Order of the supper:-
Piping in the guests
A piper generally greets the guests, who gather and mix as at any informal party. At less formal gatherings traditional Scottish music is played.
Host's welcoming speech
The host says a few words welcoming everyone to the supper and perhaps stating the reason for it. All of the guests are seated and grace is said, usually using the Selkirk Grace, a well-known thanksgiving said before meals, using the Scots language. Although attributed to Burns, the Selkirk Grace was already known in the 17th century, as the "Galloway Grace" or the "Covenanters' Grace". It came to be called the Selkirk Grace because Burns was said to have delivered it at a dinner given by the Earl of Selkirk.
The Selkirk Grace
Some hae meat an canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
And sae let the Lord be thankit.

The supper starts with the soup course. Normally a Scottish soup such as Scotch Broth, Potato Soup or Cock-a-Leekie is served.
“Piping" of the haggis
Everyone stands as the main course is brought in. This is always a haggis on a large dish. It is usually brought in by the cook, generally while a piper plays bagpipes and leads the way to the host's table, where the haggis is laid down. They might play "A Man's A Man for A' That", "Robbie Burns Medley" or "The Star O' Robbie Burns".
The host, or perhaps a guest, then recites the Address to a Haggis
Address to a Haggis
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,               (sonsie = jolly/cheerful, fa = fat)
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,               (aboon = above)
Painch, tripe, or thairm:                              (painch = paunch/stomach, thairm = intestine)
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace                     (wordy = worthy)
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,

Your hurdies like a distant hill,                    (hurdies = buttocks)
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dicht,                (dicht = wipe, here with the idea of sharpening)
An' cut you up wi' ready slicht,                    (slicht = skill)
Trenching your gushing entrails bricht,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sicht,
Warm-reekin, rich!                                       (reekin= steaming)

  Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive,          (deil = devil)
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve,          (swall'd = swollen, kytes = bellies, belyve = soon)
Are bent like drums;                                    (bent like = tight as)
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive     (auld Guidman = the man of the house, rive = tear)
"Bethankit" hums.

 Is there that o're his French ragout

Or olio that wad staw a sow,       (olio = stew, from Spanish olla'/stew pot, staw = make sick)
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi' perfect scunner,                                     (scunner = disgust)
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him ower his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;                                               (nieve = fist, nit = nut, i.e. tiny)
Thro' bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

 But mark the Rustic, haggis fed,                               

The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his wallie nieve a blade,                   (wallie = mighty, nieve = fist)
He'll mak it whistle;
An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned,         (sned = cut off)
Like taps o' thristle.                                       (thristle = thistle)

Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,

And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware         (skinkin ware = watery soup)
That jaups in luggies;             (jaups = slops about, luggies = two-handled continental bowls)
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer,
Gie her a haggis!

  At the line "His knife see rustic Labour dicht" the speaker normally draws and sharpens a knife, and at the line "An' cut you up wi' ready slicht", plunges it into the haggis and cuts it open from end to end. When done properly this "ceremony" is a highlight of the evening.
At the end of the poem, a Scotch whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis, then the company will sit down to the meal.
The haggis is traditionally served with mashed potatoes (tatties) and mashed turnips (A Scottish 'turnip' is an English 'swede') (neeps).
A dessert course, cheese courses, coffee, etc. may also be part of the meal.
The courses normally use traditional Scottish recipes. For instance, dessert may be cranachan or Tipsy Laird (whisky trifle) followed by oatcakes and cheese, all washed down with the "water of life" (uisge beatha) – Scotch whisky. When the meal reaches the coffee stage various speeches and toasts are given:-
Immortal memory
The main speaker gives a speech, remembering some aspect of Burns' life or poetry. This may be light-hearted or serious and may include the recitation of a poem or song by Burns. A toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns then follows.
Address to the Lassies
This was originally a short speech given by a male guest in thanks to the women who had prepared the meal. However, nowadays it is much more wide-ranging and generally covers the male speaker's view on women. It is normally amusing but not offensive, particularly bearing in mind that it will be followed by a reply from the "lassies" concerned. The men drink a toast to the women's health.
Reply to the Laddies
This is occasionally (and humorously) called the "Toast to the Laddies" and, like the previous toast, it is generally quite wide-ranging nowadays. A female guest will give her views on men and reply to any specific points raised by the previous speaker. Like the previous speech, this should be amusing, but not offensive. Quite often the speakers giving this toast and the previous one will collaborate so that the two toasts complement each other.
Works by Burns
After the speeches there may be singing of songs by Burns – Ae Fond Kiss, Parcel o' Rogues, A Man's a Man, etc. – and more poetry – To a Mouse, To a Louse, Tam o' Shanter, The Twa Dugs, Holy Willie's Prayer, etc. This may be done by the individual guests or by invited experts, and it goes on for as long as the guests wish and may include other works by poets influenced by Burns, particularly poets writing in Scots. Foreign guests can also be invited to sing or say works from their land.
Closing
Finally the host will call on one of the guests to give the vote of thanks, after which everyone is asked to stand, join hands, and sing Auld Lang Syne bringing the evening to an end.

Here in Dumfries there is a 9 day celebration called the Big Burns Supper. This includes concerts, with among them this year the Bay City Rollers (remember them?), comedy shows, a tea dance and a range of other events. The firework display along the River Nith takes place alongside the Big Burns Supper Carnival, which has hundreds of performers and dancers carrying thousands of lanterns, alongside floats and bands. This took place last night in Dumfries.

I apologise if any of the above is wrong but I am only a Sassenach, now living in Scotland!!(Sassenach is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word sasunnach, literally meaning 'Saxon', and originally used by Gaelic speakers to refer to non-Gaelic speaking Scottish Lowlanders. In modern Scotland, however, the Gaelic term has been adopted into general usage as sassenach, denoting something or someone English.)