Gie her a haggis!

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer
Gie her a haggis!

As Scotland’s Year of Food & Drink begins, what better way to kick off the year than by celebrating Scotland’s national Bard and food with a Burns Night supper? Scots all over the world will be enjoying their own brilliant moments and raising a glass on Sunday 25 January, a night dedicated to the poet and pride of place on many tables will be a humble Haggis.

Burns Suppers range from very formal occasions with pipers, swords, reciting of Burns’ work and the meal, or they can be informal gatherings of friends enjoying a tipple or two and reading works by Burns, about Burns or inspired by Burns. The extract above is from Burns’ ‘Address to the Haggis’.

VisitScotland has produced an in depth e-book to guide people through Burns Night celebrations which is available from 9 January 2015 on www.visitscotland.com. Highlights of the book include a history of Burns, why he’s so influential, a guide on how to hold your own Burns supper including a running order, sample speeches and suggested dishes to serve, fun facts about Burns to impress your guests with and lots more. It’s the essential guide to Burns Night!

For visitors to Scotland on Burns Night, there’s lots of events taking place to experience some brilliant moments and the magic of Burns:

Big Burns Supper Festival

23 – 31 January 2015

Various venues across Dumfries & Galloway

A contemporary Burns Night celebration, this unique festival has been extended to take place over nine days this year and features theatre, comedy, song, children’s events and arts projects throughout Dumfries & Galloway. The Burns Night Carnival will take place, with community groups creating lanterns that will light up the streets in this dazzling parade. Burns Night Suppers will also take place throughout the Festival. For further details go to: www.2014.bigburnssupper.com

The Big Haggis Feast and Ceilidh

Friday 23 January 2015, 7pm-11pm

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway, Ayrshire

The Birthplace Museum celebrates the Bard’s birthday in style with a Haggis Feast and Ceilidh featuring the dynamic Scotch Bonnet Ceilidh band. Relax at the informal family celebration featuring some of the best Burns Supper traditions and then put life and mettle in your heels as the dancing gets going. Tickets are £32, more information available www.nts.org.uk

Alloway 1759 World Haggis Hurling Championship 2015

Sunday 25 January 2015, 1pm-3pm

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway, Ayrshire

Could you hurl a haggis and beat last year’s record or even the world record of 217ft? Haggis Hurling dates back hundreds of years to when women would toss a haggis across a stream to their husbands who would try to catch the haggis in their kilt! Distance and accuracy are important aims of the game, with your haggis weighing no more than 500 grams or heavyweight haggis’ can weigh up to 1kg. For more information go to www.burnsmuseum.org.uk

Burns Night Supper at the Whiski Rooms

25 January 2015, 5pm and 8.30pm

The Whiski Rooms, 4-7 North Bank Street, Edinburgh

Enjoy a Burns Night Supper in the heart of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and the UNESCO City of Literature. A traditional Scottish menu will be served including cock-a-leekie soup, MacSween’s haggis, neeps and tatties, a dram of whisky, followed by cranachan. Reservations are essential, for more information visit www.whiskirooms.co.uk.

Tasty Burns Sunday

25 January 2015, 7pm

Cringletie House Hotel, Peebles, Scottish Borders

Visit this historic castle hotel in the Scottish Borders and experience a modern taste of Burns. Guests will be served seven delectable courses, each matched with wine or whisky and tickets include overnight accommodation at the hotel. Before dinner, explore the hotel’s 28 acres of land and enjoy a stroll around the hotel’s walled gardens, where seasonal produce is grown and served in the hotel’s restaurant.

For those who can’t wait until 9 January when the e-book becomes available, and for Burns Night on 25 January, here’s a handful or facts about Burns and haggis:

• Haggis is used in the sport of Haggis Hurling where competitors aim to hurl their haggis the furthest, the world record is 217 feet.
• The world’s largest haggis was a record-breaking 1,010 kg and measured 2.8 m in length, 0.93 m in width and 0.65 m in height. The record was set by Hall’s of Scotland in North Berwick on 18 June 2014.
• Burns was a busy man and had nine children, his youngest son was born on the day of his father’s funeral.
• Haggis is usually made of lamb, beef, oats, onions and spices with most modern haggis encased in a sausage casing.
• Robert Burns wrote his first poem aged 15.
• Robert Burns was voted the Greatest Ever Scot by STV viewers and Daily Record readers.
• After Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus, there are more statues dedicated to the poet than any other non-religious figure in the world.

For more information on Burns Night events and to download the VisitScotland e-book go to www.visitscotland.com.

ENDS