Burns supper facts for kids

"Burns Night" redirects here. For the song by Calvin Harris, see Ready for the Weekend (album).

Quick facts for kids Burns Night
The traditional meal of haggis, neeps and tatties at Dundee Burns Club's 160th annual Burns supper, on 25 January 2020
Observed by	Scotland; Scots people
Date	25 January (traditional)
Frequency	Annual

A Burns supper is a special meal that celebrates the life and poems of Robert Burns. He was a famous poet from Scotland who wrote many poems in the Scots language.

These suppers usually happen on or near his birthday, January 25th. This day is known as Burns Night. People all over the world, especially those with Scottish roots, hold Burns suppers to honor him.

A Burns supper includes the famous dish haggis, served with neeps and tatties.

History of the Celebration
What Happens at a Burns Supper?
Images for kids
See also

History of the Celebration

The very first Burns supper was held by the poet's friends in 1801. It took place at Burns Cottage in Ayrshire, Scotland. This was on the fifth anniversary of his death.

The first Burns Club was started in Greenock in 1801. The members held their first supper in 1802. They thought Burns's birthday was January 29th. But a year later, they found records showing he was born on January 25th, 1759. Since then, the celebrations have been held on January 25th.

The Scottish Parliament sees Burns Night as a very important cultural event. It's a chance to celebrate the Scots language and Scotland's national poet.

A program for a Burns celebration in 1859 held in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

What Happens at a Burns Supper?

A Burns supper can be a big, formal event or a small, casual get-together. But both types usually include three key things:

Haggis, a traditional Scottish food.
A traditional Scottish drink for the adults.
Readings of Robert Burns's famous poems.

Formal dinners often end with Scottish dancing, called a cèilidh. Here is the usual order of events for a formal Burns supper.

Guests Arrive

As guests arrive, a bagpiper might play to welcome them. At smaller parties, other traditional Scottish music is often played. The host gives a speech to welcome everyone.

After everyone is seated, a special prayer called the Selkirk Grace is said. It's a way of giving thanks for the meal in the Scots language.

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 the Lord be thankit.

This means: "Some have food but cannot eat, and some would eat but have none. But we have food, and we can eat, and so we thank the Lord."

The Meal Begins

Cullen skink is a creamy Scottish soup often served at a Burns supper.

The supper starts with a soup. Popular choices are Scotch broth, potato soup, or cock-a-leekie (chicken and leek soup).

The Famous Haggis

A bagpiper "pipes in" the haggis, leading it to the table.

The cook proudly carries the haggis into the dining room.

The most exciting part of the night is the arrival of the haggis. Everyone stands up as the cook brings it in on a large platter. A bagpiper often leads the way, playing a special tune.

The host or a guest then recites a famous poem by Burns called Address to a Haggis.

"Address to a Haggis"

A speaker recites the "Address to a Haggis" before it is served.

This poem is a fun and dramatic tribute to the haggis. As the poem is read, the speaker acts it out. When they reach the line "His knife see rustic Labour dicht" (meaning "see the worker wipe his knife"), they pull out a knife.

At the line "An' cut you up wi' ready slicht" (meaning "and cut you up with skill"), the speaker cuts the haggis open. It's a big moment and a highlight of the evening!

Below is the poem in its original Scots language, with an English translation.

Original text	English translation
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the puddin-race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o' a grace As lang's my airm.	Nice seeing your honest, chubby face, Great leader of the sausage race! Above them all you take your place, Belly, tripe, or intestine: You are well worthy of a prayer of thanks As long as my arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o' need, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead.	The groaning platter there you fill, Your sides like a distant hill, Your pin would help to fix a mill In time of need, While through your pores the juices drip Like amber beads.
His knife see rustic Labour dicht, An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, Trenching your gushing entrails bricht, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sicht, Warm-reekin, rich!	His knife see the worker sharpen, And cut you up with practiced skill, Cutting open your gushing insides bright, Like any ditch; And then, oh what a glorious sight, Warm-steaming, rich!
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve, Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, "Bethankit" hums.	Then, spoon for spoon, they stretch and strive: Devil take the last one, on they drive, Until all their well-swollen bellies soon Are tight as drums; Then the old master, about to burst, "Thanks be" hums.
Is there that o're his French ragout Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad mak her spew Wi' perfect scunner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinner?	Is there anyone, who over his French stew, Or fancy dish that would make a pig pause, Or fricassee that would make her sick With total disgust, Looks down with a sneering, scornful view On such 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; Thro' bloody flood or field to dash, O how unfit!	Poor devil! See him over his trash, As weak as a withered reed, His skinny leg like a whip-lash, His fist the size of a nut: Through a bloody flood or field to dash, Oh how unfit!
But mark the Rustic, haggis fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread. Clap in his wallie nieve a blade, He'll mak it whistle; An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned, Like taps o' thristle.	But look at the countryman, fed on haggis, The trembling earth echoes his step. Put a blade in his strong fist, He'll make it whistle; And he'll chop off legs, arms, and heads, Like the tops of thistles.
Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care, And dish them out their bill o' fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer, Gie her a haggis!	You Powers, who make mankind your care, And give them their menu, Old Scotland wants no watery stuff That slops in bowls: But, if you wish for her grateful prayer, Give her a Haggis!

The Main Course

A cooked haggis is the centerpiece of the Burns supper meal.

Haggis is served with "neeps and tatties" on the side.

After the poem, a toast is made to the haggis. Then, everyone sits down to eat. Haggis is traditionally served with "tatties" and "neeps."

"Tatties" are mashed potatoes. "Neeps" are mashed swede (a root vegetable similar to a turnip). Vegetarian haggis is also very popular.

After the main course, guests might have a dessert like cranachan (a dessert with oats, cream, and raspberries).

Speeches and Toasts

After the meal, it's time for speeches.

The Immortal Memory: A speaker gives a speech about Robert Burns's life or poems. Everyone then raises a glass and toasts to the "Immortal Memory" of the poet.
Address to the Lassies: A male guest gives a funny speech about his views on women. The men then toast to the health of the women.
Reply to the Laddies: A female guest gives a speech in reply. She shares her views on men and responds to the previous speaker. It's all done in good fun.

Entertainment and Closing

The evening continues with more of Burns's work. Guests might sing his songs, like "Ae Fond Kiss" or "A Man's A Man for A' That." They might also read more of his poems, such as "To a Mouse" or "Tam o' Shanter".

To end the night, everyone stands, joins hands, and sings "Auld Lang Syne". This is one of Burns's most famous songs, sung around the world on New Year's Eve.

Images for kids

"To a Haggis" as it appeared in the 1787 Edinburgh Edition of Burns's poems.
A poem celebrating the famous Scottish dish, haggis.