cottages.com
  • Blog Home
  • All Articles
  • Inspiration
    • Groups
    • Couples
    • Family
    • Waterside
    • Outdoors
    • Luxury
    • Culture
    • Events
    • Food and Drink
    • Dog Friendly
    • Nature
    • Properties
    • Wellbeing
    • Town and City
    • LGBTI
    • How to Holiday Let
  • Regions
    • England
      • Central England
      • North East England
      • North West England
      • South West England
      • Southern England
      • East Anglia
    • Scotland
      • Southern Scotland
      • Central Scotland
      • Northern Scotland
    • Wales
      • South Wales
      • Mid Wales
      • North Wales
      • MailPoet 3 Form
    • France
      • South East France
      • Central France
      • South West France
      • Eastern France
      • North East France
      • North West France
      • Channel Islands
    • Ireland
      • Eastern Ireland
      • South East Ireland
      • South West Ireland
      • Western Ireland
    • Italy
      • Central Italy
      • Northern Italy
      • Southern Italy
    • Isle of Wight
    • Isle of Man
Your cart is empty. Go to Shop.
Burns Night how to host
January 25 2019

Host the ultimate Burns Night

Not just a celebration of the life and work of the ‘Scottish Bard’, Burns Night (25 January) is a great opportunity for a get-together to celebrate Scotland, eat some lovely food and enjoy a ‘wee dram’ or two.

Whether formal or informal, a Burns Night celebration will normally involve raising a glass of whisky, a recital of Robert Burns’ poetry and a feast of haggis.

Here’s how to host the ultimate (informal!) Burns Night celebration:

Gathering the Guests

Traditionally, guests are piped in by a live bagpipe player, but a quick Spotify search should help you find yours!

The guests gather and the host says a few words of welcome before reciting Burns’ Selkirk Grace:

Some hae meat an canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it,

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae the Lord be thankit.

The Meal

haggis

Starters are served – traditionally a bowl of cock-a-leekie soup – before the haggis is piped in. Burns’ Address to a Haggis is then recited before everyone toasts the ‘Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race’.

Traditionally accompanied by mashed potatoes (tatties) and swede (neeps), the main meal is often followed by dessert and/or a cheeseboard with oatcakes followed by coffee.

Recitals  

The first post-dinner entertainment is often a sung or spoken recital of Burns’ work. The second, named the Immortal Memory, should explore Burns’ work in a lighthearted or serious way.

Address to the Lassies, Reply to the Laddies

A toast

A humorous highlight, this toast is traditionally made to praise the ladies, with a female guest then replying with a speech about the assembled menfolk.

Plenty of talking, singing and drinking follow before the grand finale!

Thanks & Auld Lang Syne   

The host thanks the participants before inviting guests to their feet for a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, crossing arms and joining hands at the line: And there’s a hand, my trusty fere!

Optional Extras

Keep your guests entertained with games, a quiz or a contest. Being engaged, having fun and paying tribute to the Scotland and its Bard is what Burns Night is all about!

Find holiday homes in Scotland with cottages.com.

admin Culture, Featured Articles, Inspiration, Scotland

Related Posts

The best family films

Culture, Family, Featured Articles

The best family films

March 25 2020
Things to do indoors

Family, Featured Articles, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Indoor entertainment ideas

March 17 2020
cottages with cinema rooms

Featured Articles, Inspiration, Properties

Cottages with stunning cinema rooms

March 17 2020

Recent Posts

  • The best family films
    The best family films
    March 25, 2020
  • Things to do indoors
    Indoor entertainment ideas
    March 17, 2020
  • cottages with cinema rooms
    Cottages with stunning cinema rooms
    March 17, 2020

cottages.com

  • About Us
  • About Vacation Rentals UK
  • Important Holiday Information
  • Press and Media
  • FAQs
  • Gender Pay Gap

Holiday Inspiration

  • Inspire & Explore Travel Guides
  • Cottage Collections
  • Social Media
  • cottages.com TV

Booking Information

  • Pay Balance
  • Insurance Information
  • Ferry Travel
  • Terms and conditions

Our Website Policies

  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Notice
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap

cottages.com is the new home of cottages4you (Cottages for You).

cottages4you
Subscribe to our latest deals & offers

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

ABTA Protected

Book with confidence. We are a member of ABTA. Read full details of our ABTA membership and where financial protection might apply to your booking.

0345 498 6900 Open 9am-9pm today
  • norton
  • modern-slavery
  • green-scheme

cottages.com is a trading name of Awaze Vacation Rentals Ltd. Registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Sunway House, Raglan Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 2LW, UK
Company Registration Number 00965389. VAT Registration Number: GB 598 22 99 77