Burns Night

There are hundreds of Burns Clubs scattered throughout the world, and on 25th January they all endeavour to hold Burns Night celebrations to mark the birth of Scotland's greatest poet. The first club was founded at Greenock, Renfrewshire, in 1802. The traditional menu at the suppers is cock-a-leekie soup (chicken broth), boiled salt herring, haggis with turnips, and champit tatties (mashed potatoes). The arrival of the haggis is usually heralded by the music of bagpipes. "The Immortal Memory" is toasted, and the company stand in silent remembrance. Then follows dancing, pipe music, and selections from Burns's lyrics, the celebration concluding with the poet's famous Auld Lang Syne.