Friday, January 24, 2014

Burns Night

Oh my luve's like a red, red rose
that's newly sprung in June ...
                        --Robert Burns

For those of you who love the poetry of Robert Burns, or Scotland,
or haggis--this is a night you should be celebrating.
Burns Night is an annual celebration in Scotland,
dating back to the night in 1801 that friends of Burns gathered
on his birthday to remember his life and to recite his poetry.


It's been going on ever since.
And there is a traditional meal called Burns Supper:
 haggis, tatties (potatoes) 
and neeps (turnips, also called swedes.)
Oh yes, and scotch whiskey.
To read about Burns Night, click here:  

Haggis. Don't forget the ceremonial piercing.




Burns Night here is freezing cold, bitterly cold,
so Burns' poem "A Winter Night"
is a propos:

A Winter Night
When biting Boreas, fell and doure,
Sharp shivers thro' the leafless bow'r; 
When Phoebus gies a short-liv'd glow'r,
Far south the lift,
Dim-dark'ning thro' the flaky show'r,
Or whirling drift ...

So if it's really cold where you are,
and you like poetry, gather your friends 
and lift a glass to celebrate the life of Robbie Burns.
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