Friday, January 03, 2020

Burn's Supper

Just for fun and since we're in town this year for Robbie Burn's birthday which is January 25, I decided to have a Burn's Supper for our old school friends.  It should be lots of fun!  The "supper" won't be completely traditional as I will be ditching things I don't like...i.e. "neeps" aka turnips.

This is an email I sent to the participants:

There are a few traditions associated with this event. You will need to sing for your supper so to speak:)

Jim will do the “address to the haggis “ and the Selkirk Grace. I will be creating trivia questions about Scotland and jokes that we will take turns reading.

The laddies are assigned to work on and present this together:

Toast to The Lassies

The Burns night tradition began in 1801, several years after the eponymous poet’s death. When the toast to the Lassie’s became a permanent fixture, however, is uncertain, but we can be sure that whenever it was, gender roles were greatly different to today. They say the tradition began as a thanks to the women for preparing the feast all the men had have enjoyed. Which, thankfully, is unlikely to be the case in the modern world. As such, the toast to the lassies is a balancing act. A playful throwback to a bygone era, and a modern reinterpretation of the differences between the sexes.
If it isn’t good natured, fun, and affectionate (without being patronising), you’d be advised to watch out for any stray bits of haggis flying in your direction. Remember, the traditions is old fashioned. Your job is to provide a fresh take on it but although it’s nice to quote a verse or two, you don’t need to worry about dissecting poetry or becoming an expert on Burns himself!
The lassies are assigned to work on and present this together:

The Response to The Laddies

It would appear impossible to formulate a response to what hasn’t yet been said. But don’t worry. The ‘response’ isn’t so much a direct riposte as a continuation of the banter. In much the same spirit as the Toast the Lassies, this should be good-spirited, witty, and original. As to the content, the absence of a formula gives you creative license to be taken advantage of. Why not write a poem in the style of Burns? If you feel up to it, that is. Whatever form, or style, your ‘response’ will take, go with it, and inject as much humour as possible. And remember, the Lassie’s speech can afford to be even cheekier than the laddies’. The tradition is born out of old-fashioned patriarchy. You don’t need to go too easy on them!
A blog post on a Burn's Supper we attended with Don and Elaine in 2005. Along with the toast to the "Immortal Bard", we will be toasting their memory and the memory of Bill Thomas, and Donna's husband, Neil, who would have loved to join us. Donna and Neil went to many Burn's Suppers (Donna's maiden name is Rowen so a wee Scottish girl herself...) One of their very memorable Burn's Suppers was at the Seaforth Highlanders. Jim's kilt is from the Seaforth Highlanders. Bill probably stole it...he was quite a character.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2005



Robbie Burn's Dinner

I think it's close to 20 years that we have been celebrating Robbie Burn's birthday with Don and Elaine. We began doing it at each other's houses (even went very unauthentic one year and went out for sushi!). Jim borrowed a kilt and read the address to the Haggis the first time. Since then Bill Thomas (we raised a glass to him last night) fitted him out in the whole regalia and this year Susan knit him some authentic kilt hose! For the last 10 years or so we've been going to the Union Club and really enjoying it. Some pictures from last night.