In which G.M. Norton raises a glass of whisky to Mr Robert Burns.
Long
before the celebrated Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer impressed us with his lyrical
expression, there was another Mr B who was much lauded for his skilful way with
words and song – Mr Robert Burns.
Tomorrow
evening marks Burns Night - an annual celebration of the music and words of
Scotland’s favourite son. Of course, it’s also the perfect excuse for the heavy
consumption of whisky, providing a ray of light on an otherwise dark and gloomy
first month of the year.
Robert
Burns was born in Ayrshire on 25th January 1759 and during his short life (only
reaching 37 years of age), he won the hearts of the world with some of
Scotland’s most enduring verse and ballads. His body of work touched on love,
freedom and humanity, making him as relevant today as he was during his
lifetime.
The
tradition of Burns Night began on the fifth anniversary of his death when a few
of his chums had the topping idea of meeting up to celebrate the life and works
of their dear friend. It was such a jolly affair that they agreed to meet up
again on Burns’ birthday, little knowing that they had started a Burns Supper
tradition that would continue more than two hundred years later.
As a lover of all things Scottish - namely tweed, whisky
and Sean Connery, it’s rather remiss of me to have never partaken in a Burns
Supper before. Consisting of traditional Scottish fare, it is full of pomp and
ceremony with lots of speeches, toasts and recitals thrown into the mix.
Haggis is quite
rightly the star of the Burns Supper feast, which also includes Cock-a-Leekie
soup, tatties (mashed potatoes) and Typsy Laird (whisky
trifle). Of course, Scotch whisky is consumed throughout. The haggis is brought
in to the sound of bagpipes before one of Burns’ poems, Address to a Haggis
is performed. At the end of the poem, a Scotch whisky toast will be
proposed to the Haggis. When the meal reaches the coffee stage various speeches
and toasts are given such as a ‘Toast to the lassies’ and a ‘Reply to the
laddies’ followed by performances of Burns’ work. Afterwards, everyone is asked
to stand, join hands, and sing Burns’ Auld Lang Syne to bring the curtain down
on a whisky-soaked evening.
I’ll
be raising a glass of the strong stuff to remember the Bard. I may even give my
tartan waistcoat a deserved outing. It would be rude not to. Perhaps next year
I’ll plan a Burns’ Supper of my own.
G.M. Norton
Protagonist of ‘Norton of Morton’
Protagonist of ‘Norton of Morton’
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