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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
James Walsh

Burns Night: share your stories and photos

Rural Burns Night Celebrations In Herefordshire, England (that’s right, England).
Rural Burns Night Celebrations In Herefordshire, England (that’s right, England). Photograph: Billie Charity / Barcroft Media

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o’ a grace
As lang’s my arm.

Tonight is Burns Night, a celebration of the noted Scottish poet Robert Burns. Started by some of Burns’ friends to mark anniversaries of his death, the occasion is marked by copious haggis consumption - above is the start to Burns’ Address to a Haggis - alongside speeches, further poetry recital, bonhomie, and the liberal consumption of whisky. In the memorable words of one commenter a few years back:

There are two sorts of Burns' Nights. Rip-roaring. fiddle-playing, poetry declaiming, jig-birling,over-indulging, drunken blellum, uproariously funny, whisky drinking, friendship protesting nights where the mirth and fun grows fast and furious and the landlord's laugh is ready chorus,or po-faced, Holy Willie, wee Wee Free, cotillion-prancing, Abernethy biscuit, poker-arsed, lace- cuffed,skean dhu, wrath-nursing, White Heather Club, nights where the dead stand about in open presses and each in his cold hand holds a light, and smiles his neighbour an ill-wished farewell.
The latter take place in Edinburgh.

But all joking aside, we’d love to hear about your own Burns Night adventures, wherever you happen to reside. Even England.

You can share your photos and stories via GuardianWitness, by clicking the blue button below. We’ll stick together an article featuring the best of your contributions.

  • GuardianWitness is the home of readers’ content on the Guardian. Contribute your video, pictures and stories, and browse news, reviews and creations submitted by others. Posts will be reviewed prior to publication on GuardianWitness, and the best pieces will feature on the Guardian site.
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