It's Burns night, time to enjoy that pet Haggis you've been growing all year!

Good evening, buzzers! Happy Burns night!

It's time to get your kilt on, enjoy the piper and dig into your Haggis, Neeps and Tatties. We all know Scotland has some weird and wonderful animals. From their National Animal of the Unicorn, to the delicious dish served on Burns Night. The Haggis! Such a cute and interesting creature! Have you ever seen one in the wild?

wild haggis, from Google

Haggis hunting season has come to an end as Scots plate up their catch and share a night of poems, love and laughter, remembering the Scots poet Robert Burns! Burns night is always celebrated in Scottish schools, normally by forcing the kids to recite Burns poems in old Scots. Can you understand 'To a Mouse'? Probably one of the more well-known Burns poems, written to a mouse after digging up its burrow whilst ploughing a field. It's the one I remember most from school! What a tongue twister, even for a Scot! Here's a little snippet:

Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie,
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi’ bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee,
Wi’ murdering pattle!

Burns Night began around 1800, following the death of Robert Burns. The first recorded instance occurred in July 1801, 5 years after his death, when a group of his friends gathered to celebrate his life and work. This started the 'Burns Club', which held annual events on Burns' Birthday in January.

Don't forget to recite the poem 'Address to a Haggis' before tucking in; the full poem can be found here. Recited after the piper pipes in the Haggis, of course! No Scottish party would be complete without the Haggis and Piper!

image from Wikipedia

Burns is probably most remembered for 'old lang skye', which is still sung every New Year in Scotland. I think this tradition has spread to many other countries around the world, too! Do you know any Burns poems? Have you heard of Burns Day, or are there any similar celebrations in your country throughout the year?

Well, I'm off for a wee nip of whisky, some chortbread, and a bit of tablet!

Until next time,
Sloth out!