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Burn Suppers

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Burns Suppers are held on the 25th January or on a day reasonably near to this date.

1) The meal can be as simple or as grand as the occasion dictates.

Haggis should be the main course, or served after the soup and prior to the main course. The haggis should be paraded round and brought to the top table to be addressed.
The parade should be led by the piper, followed by the chef carrying the Haggis, and the person designated to addressing it bringing up the rear.

The poem "The Address to the Haggis" is recited.
The Haggis is then toasted by the piper, the chef and the reciter prior to being piped out. (Back to the kitchen to be dished out).

2) The Immortal Memory is the important Toast of the evening and as the title states should outline some reason why Burns should be Immortal. If possible it should mention his works - poems, letters, or songs. This speech ends with the company toasting the "Immortal Memory of Robert Burns".

3) The Toast to the Lassies should be fun. Outrageous and hilarious. However it should always end up being gracious to the ladies. The gentlemen rise and toast "The Lassies".

4) The reply should simply thank the gentlemen for their good wishes. This should also be witty and poke good natured fun at the men. Note - This assumes that the evening is mixed company. If it is all male then a toast to the guests could be exchanged for the Reply from the Lassies.

5) A further Toast can be inserted such as a "Toast to Caledonia" or "Absent Friends".

6) There are no hard and fast rules about which poems or songs to include: It is a matter of personal choice. It is a general rule though that "Tam o' Shanter" is recited and the song selection should include - "My Love is like a Red Red Rose" and "Ae Fond Kiss". Above all Burns Suppers should be fun evenings and should be nights which Burns would have enjoyed. If you do organise one I wish you a happy, memorable night spent with your cronies. David Sibbald, President - Glasgow and District Burns Association.

BURNS SUPPER SUGGESTED FORMAT AND TIMETABLE

6.45 GATHER

7.15 MEAL - PRESIDENTS WELCOME GRACE

After Soup - Parade of the Haggis

ADDRESS TO HAGGIS

PIPER

Remember 3 Whiskies for Chairman, Piper, and Reciter

9.00 INTERVAL

9.15 INTRODUCE TOP TABLE

9.20 COMPANY SING - THERE WAS A LAD

9.25 IMMORTAL MEMORY

9.50 SONGS

10.00 MUSIC SELECTION - Fiddler or Accordion

10.10 TOAST TO THE LASSIES

10.30 SONGS

10.40 POEM - TAM O'SHANTER

10.50 REPLY FROM THE LASSIES

11.05 SONGS

11.15 POEM

11.25 SONG
VOTE OF THANKS
CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIRMAN

11.35 AULD LANG SYNE

 

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