Burns Night 2025

[Rosie C]

January 25th is almost upon us! Who else will be celebrating Burns Night? More pertinently will you be playing accordion and what are you going to play?

We are celebrating as usual - though I have to trace my father's family back 200+ years via Ireland to get to our Scottish ancestors. I've volunteered to 'pipe' the arrival of the haggis on accordion. I was thinking to play "Scotland the Brave", but I'm now thinking of learning "A Man's a Man For a' That" - a new tune for me, but apparently very traditional.

Edit: I note that Burns Night is the day before @Tom's next Zoom chat, so that's me sorted for what tune to play!

 

[JeffJetton]

Just me and the missus celebrating at home. But I had a (vegetarian) haggis shipped in for the occasion, and I'll be whipping up some tatties and neeps!

I did an arrangement several years ago of the original melody for Auld Lang Syne, based largely on the Jim Malcolm version of it. I like it better than the now-traditional melody everyone knows:

 

[Rosie C]

Thanks Jeff! I've downloaded that and I'll give it a go!

We have meat-eating friends visiting, so I ordered a large meat haggis for them. I might be going hungry as the gluten-free vegetarian haggis I ordered was out of stock. They've promised to send it in February, but that is a bit late for Burns.

 

[Tom]

January 25th is almost upon us! Who else will be celebrating Burns Night? More pertinently will you be playing accordion and what are you going to play?

We are celebrating as usual - though I have to trace my father's family back 200+ years via Ireland to get to our Scottish ancestors. I've volunteered to 'pipe' the arrival of the haggis on accordion. I was thinking to play "Scotland the Brave", but I'm now thinking of learning "A Man's a Man For a' That" - a new tune for me, but apparently very traditional.

Edit: I note that Burns Night is the day before @Tom's next Zoom chat, so that's me sorted for what tune to play!

Hmm, don’t know either of these songs but your arrangement looks good and I look forward to hearing it. I believe haggis is some sort of food, apparently traditionally eaten on Burn’s Night?

 

[Ventura]

ahh Tom.. i believe to us delicate Americans,
Haggis is to Food
as
Scottish Tuning is to Musette

an acquired taste

 

[Tom]

ahh Tom.. i believe to us delicate Americans,
Haggis is to Food
as
Scottish Tuning is to Musette

an acquired taste

Ahhhh, thanks Ventura! I could google but I’m quite sure Dingo will elucidate us! More fun that way….,

 

[JerryPH]

Never heard of Burns night and I had to look it up... so Rosie, enjoy and Sláinte Mhath!

 

[Rosie C]

Hmm, don’t know either of these songs but your arrangement looks good and I look forward to hearing it. I believe haggis is some sort of food, apparently traditionally eaten on Burn’s Night?

Thanks Tom. Your Zoom calls are going to be a great focus for me to learn tunes!

Yes, haggis is a food stuff, made from offal. It actually tastes pretty good, though it's best not think too much about what's in it. I did hear it's it's illegal to import haggis into the USA - though that may be an urban myth.

The Burns Supper has a formula - we'll begin with chicken and leek soup (cock-a-leekie). Then we bring in the haggis, preferably accompanied by a bagpiper, but accordion will do. One of our guests will read Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis" and at the appropriate time plunges a knife into the haggis to 'trench the gushing entrails bright'. The haggis is served with mashed potatoes and mashed swede. For dessert we have cranachan which is made from raspberries, oatmeal and cream. During the meal one of the gentlemen will propose a toast to the ladies, and one of the ladies will reply with a toast to the gents. Usually I will have persuaded another guest to choose and read another of Burns' poems, and/or to speak for a few minutes about the man. Throughout the meal copious amounts of Scotch whisky are consumed.

NB: you have to go back 10 generations in my family to get back to Scottish members, so my apologies to our Scottish forum members for any errors!

 

[Tom]

Thanks Tom. Your Zoom calls are going to be a great focus for me to learn tunes!

Yes, haggis is a food stuff, made from offal. It actually tastes pretty good, though it's best not think too much about what's in it. I did hear it's it's illegal to import haggis into the USA - though that may be an urban myth.

The Burns Supper has a formula - we'll begin with chicken and leek soup (cock-a-leekie). Then we bring in the haggis, preferably accompanied by a bagpiper, but accordion will do. One of our guests will read Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis" and at the appropriate line plunges a knife into the haggis to 'trench the gushing entrails bright'. The haggis is served with mashed potatoes and mashed swede. For dessert we have cranachan which is made from raspberries, oatmeal and cream. During the meal one of the gentlemen will propose a toast to the ladies, and one of the ladies will reply with a toast to the gents. Usually I will have persuaded another guest to choose and read another of Burns' poems, and/or to speak for a few minutes about the man. Throughout the meal copious amounts of Scotch whisky are consumed.

NB: you have to go back 10 generations in my family to get back to Scottish members, so my apologies to our Scottish forum members for any errors!

Now of course I have to ask you what offal is. Is it like tripe? And are you really going to mash a swede? Man or woman? The chicken and leek soup sounds good though!

I’m glad the zooms are inspiring you….

Not sure of my ancestry, as far as Scottish goes, I know there were some that came over from that big archipelago of yours, way back to the 1700s, maybe even the Mayflower. But I’m thinking more likely that monster from Loch Ness…..

 

[Ffingers]

Now of course I have to ask you what offal is. Is it like tripe? And are you really going to mash a swede? Man or woman? The chicken and leek soup sounds good though!

I’m glad the zooms are inspiring you….

Not sure of my ancestry, as far as Scottish goes, I know there were some that came over from that big archipelago of yours, way back to the 1700s, maybe even the Mayflower. But I’m thinking more likely that monster from Loch Ness…..

Bloody 'ell, you yankydoodles and your elective ignorance!

A swede you refer to as rutabaga, and offal ( good grief, no dictionary?) are the umbles of a beast - liver; kidneys, lungs, and all the other bits of non muscular meat.

Now go eat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humble_pie

 

[Jibberin]

A alternative accompaniment to Haggis is rumbledethump potatoes instead of mashed potato. The most frightening phrase in relation to Haggis is “this will stick to yer ribs son”
Lots of pretty 3/4s for Burns Season
Aye Fond Kiss, Ye Banks and Braes, My Like Is Like A Red Rose, Caw The Yowes, Green Grow The Rashes

 

[JeffJetton]

I did hear it's it's illegal to import haggis into the USA - though that may be an urban myth.

That's apparently true. It's the sheep lung that's specifically a no-no.

But there are places that make it here. I use Scottish Gourment.

 

[Ventura]

my apologies, but the best i can do to support your feast
in spirit is to dunk some Shortbread cookies in my cup..

not very Brave of me, i know, but i fear the Haggis

 

[Walker]

Bloody 'ell, you yankydoodles and your elective ignorance!

A swede you refer to as rutabaga, and offal ( good grief, no dictionary?) are the umbles of a beast - liver; kidneys, lungs, and all the other bits of non muscular meat.

Now go eat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humble_pie

My dear @Tom - as kind, friendly and talented a man as anyone could hope to meet - pay no heed to our great Welshman @Ffingers, his wit is sharp enough to peel a neep (turnip). I think it's a sign of great affection!

Now Tom, you just put that bowl of humble pie down, as you're gonna need a good appetite when you come to the Highlands. I'll be your tour guide to places so beautiful you'll pinch yourself to check you are not dreaming. I'll show you traditional music galore, the Capital of the Highlands (Inverness), Loch Ness and the Great Glen, Culloden Battlefield, Glen Affric, Highland weavers, artisan cheese makers, the finest whisky distilleries on the face of the Earth (Speyside), ancient Caledonian pine forests, standing stones and more mountains than you can shake a walking pole at. And I'll cook you a haggis so delicious.... you'll crave it evermore! You'll hear tales of witches and ghosts and all manner of frightful beasties. You'll want to stay forever!

 

[Accordionna]

ahh Tom.. i believe to us delicate Americans,
Haggis is to Food
as
Scottish Tuning is to Musette

an acquired taste

Sausage is sausage Is sausage whether it's contained by a sheep's stomach or boar intestines.
Who knows what organ meats were first ground in sunny Italy?

(Although shortbread would be my preference as well.)

 

[Accordionna]

My dear @Tom - as kind, friendly and talented a man as anyone could hope to meet - pay no heed to our great Welshman @Ffingers, his wit is sharp enough to peel a neep (turnip). I think it's a sign of great affection!

Now Tom, you just put that bowl of humble pie down, as you're gonna need a good appetite when you come to the Highlands. I'll be your tour guide to places so beautiful you'll pinch yourself to check you are not dreaming. I'll show you traditional music galore, the Capital of the Highlands (Inverness), Loch Ness and the Great Glen, Culloden Battlefield, Glen Affric, Highland weavers, artisan cheese makers, the finest whisky distilleries on the face of the Earth (Speyside), ancient Caledonian pine forests, standing stones and more mountains than you can shake a walking pole at. And I'll cook you a haggis so delicious.... you'll crave it evermore! You'll hear tales of witches and ghosts and all manner of frightful beasties. You'll want to stay forever!

That response is a travelogue! There's a wee dram of Scot somewhere in our gene pool and your promise sang to that bit of me!

 

[Walker]

my apologies, but the best i can do to support your feast
in spirit is to dunk some Shortbread cookies in my cup..

not very Brave of me, i know, but i fear the Haggis

I'd highly recommend Walker's Shortbread.

Just sayin'.

 

[Tom]

My dear @Tom - as kind, friendly and talented a man as anyone could hope to meet - pay no heed to our great Welshman @Ffingers, his wit is sharp enough to peel a neep (turnip). I think it's a sign of great affection!

Now Tom, you just put that bowl of humble pie down, as you're gonna need a good appetite when you come to the Highlands. I'll be your tour guide to places so beautiful you'll pinch yourself to check you are not dreaming. I'll show you traditional music galore, the Capital of the Highlands (Inverness), Loch Ness and the Great Glen, Culloden Battlefield, Glen Affric, Highland weavers, artisan cheese makers, the finest whisky distilleries on the face of the Earth (Speyside), ancient Caledonian pine forests, standing stones and more mountains than you can shake a walking pole at. And I'll cook you a haggis so delicious.... you'll crave it evermore! You'll hear tales of witches and ghosts and all manner of frightful beasties. You'll want to stay forever!

Now we’re talking!!!!!

 

[Tom]

Bloody 'ell, you yankydoodles and your elective ignorance!

A swede you refer to as rutabaga, and offal ( good grief, no dictionary?) are the umbles of a beast - liver; kidneys, lungs, and all the other bits of non muscular meat.

Now go eat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humble_pie

Come on down for some venison jerky, deep fried butter and cheddar brats Ffingers old bean!

 

[Rosie C]

Now Tom, you just put that bowl of humble pie down, as you're gonna need a good appetite when you come to the Highlands. I'll be your tour guide to places so beautiful you'll pinch yourself to check you are not dreaming. I'll show you traditional music galore, the Capital of the Highlands (Inverness), Loch Ness and the Great Glen, Culloden Battlefield, Glen Affric, Highland weavers, artisan cheese makers, the finest whisky distilleries on the face of the Earth (Speyside), ancient Caledonian pine forests, standing stones and more mountains than you can shake a walking pole at. And I'll cook you a haggis so delicious.... you'll crave it evermore! You'll hear tales of witches and ghosts and all manner of frightful beasties. You'll want to stay forever!

Pure poetry!

Though I would have to differ over whisky - Islay for me!