Don’t Burn the supper
EDWINA HUGHES
As the month draws to a close and we look for reasons to renege on all our New Year’s resolutions, we find the perfect excuse on Burns Night. Robert Burns – born 25 January 1759 – is Scotland’s national bard, celebrated for his poetry, songs, and vivid use of the Scots language. Every year on 25 January, Burns Night marks his birthday with a traditional Burns supper. These celebrations take place not only across Scotland but around the world, honouring his work, his humour, and his deep love of Scottish culture.
WHAT TO EXPECT TO EAT AND DRINK AT A BURNS SUPPER
No Burns supper is complete without haggis – that’s right, nutrient-dense offal (yum), neeps, tatties and whisky. While haggis is not everyone’s bag, it’s fair to say offal is enjoying something of a revival right now with celebrated chefs returning to a ‘nose to tail’ ethos which means using every part of the animal.
The food is only half the story, though. The evening is about poetry, stories and even bagpipes – so if you have a set of pipes and very sympathetic neighbours, this is the night to bring them out!
As for the poetry: Burns poetry is written in Scots dialect so I suggest having a true Scot or phonetic guide to really enjoy the music of the words.
The evening is a celebration of his life, his poetry and a nod to his beloved dish haggis. Here’s a little taste of the poetry in the form of the Selkirk Grace – a short prayer that might be said before the meal commences:
Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.
WHERE TO CELEBRATE IN HASTINGS
If you want to mark the night, both The Albion and The Crown will be serving a Burns Supper. Venues typically firm up their events earlier in the week, so check social channels for updates on menus, timings and whether any poetry readings or whisky pairings will be on offer. And if you partake – Ith do shàth!
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