There might be a few sore heads this morning, as Scottish people and Scotland enthusiasts recover from celebrating Burns Night, a tribute to the noted poet and a good excuse to get together for food, drinks and good times. We heard from people celebrating across the world, from pipers in Catalonia to rousing toasts in Montana. There was even a kilt spottd in Shanghai, albeit alongside a giant mechanical horse.
From all the pictures and stories we received, certain themes emerged. Below, we list 10 signs you’re probably at a Burns Night supper.
1) You’ve dug out your best Saltire
2) Kilts abound in your surroundings
Burns Night in Helsinki
Around 30 Scots gather in a pub, each bringing a contribution to the food table.
Everything from Haggis to tablet, & a crate of Irn-Bru.
Finishing the night off with a sing-along & poem recital.
3) There’s a piper lurking about somewhere
Bagpipes
About 75 people gathered in the caveau of the abbey to drink (mostly the local red wine) and feast on haggis and sing "On the bonnie banks of Lock Lomond".
Francesc and Enric, our Catalan Pipers taking a break
This is the fourth Burns Supper we have hosted at our guest house in La Garrotxa, Catalonia and each year Francesc and Enric, two Catalans from Barcelona join us to pipe in the haggis, jet fresh from Scotland!
4) In fact, you’re wearing your ‘special occasion’ sporran
What the fox?
Burns night celebrations, one guest had a very unusual sporran!
5) There is plenty of whisky available
#BurnsNight2016
Two of Scotland's finest!
6) And, ahem, teacakes?
7) You find yourself talking to offal
"Address to a haggis
Dramatic recitation of Burns' poem with haggis in view.
Byford Burns Night
Celebrating Burns Night in Herefordshire with a large gathering of family. Pictured is my nephew, Greg performing the address to the haggis.
8) ... and scrabbling around for the collective noun for Haggis
A twenty haggis Burns' night
This year we collected together haggises from all over Scotland (also two from Yorkshire and Wales) and made a few ourselves. After the piping in of the haggis, address to a haggis, poem recitals, there was big regional haggis tasting. Great fun.
9) Finally, you settle down to your healthy meal...
Haggis, Neeps & Tatties
Haggis, Neeps & Tatties,a wee dram and The Selkirk Grace.
10) ... And remember Robert Burns
Robert Burn's birthplace celebration
Burn's Night and the cottage he was born in 257 yrs ago has a birthday ribbon in Alloway.
