Month : January
Place : Scotland, U.K
Famous For : Remembering Festival
Attractions : Remembering poet Robert Burns, Haggis (traditional dish), Formal Dinners
The Burns Night 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, sometimes also known as Robert Burns Day or Burns Night (Burns Nicht), although they may in principle be held at any time of the year. Burns suppers are most common in Scotland and Northern Scotland, but occur wherever there are Burns Clubs, Scottish Societies, expatriate Scots, or lovers of Burns' poetry.
The first suppers were held in Ayrshire at the end of the 18th century by Robert Burns' friends on the anniversary of his death, 21 July, In Memoriam and they have been a regular occurrence ever since. The first Burns club, known as The Mother Club, was founded in Greenock in 1801 by merchants born in Ayrshire, some of whom had known Burns. They held the first Burns Supper on what they thought was his birthday on 29 January 1802, but in 1803 discovered from the Ayr parish records that the correct date was 25 January 1759,[1] and since then suppers have been held to 25 January, Burns' birthday. Burns suppers may be either formal or informal. Informal suppers typically include haggis (a traditional Scottish dish), Scotch whisky and the recitation of Burns' poetry. Formal dinners are hosted by organizations such as the Freemasons or St Andrews Societies and occasionally end in a ceilidh when ladies are present. However whether they are single sex or not, the formal suppers follow a standard format. At the end, a whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis, then the company will sit and enjoy the meal.
