Burns Supper
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the pudding-race! Aboon them a' yet tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o'a grace As lang's me arm. The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o'need, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead. His knife see rustic Labour dight, An' cut you up wi' ready sleight, Trenching your gushing entrails bright, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm-reekin', rich! Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, Bethankit! hums. Is there that owre his French ragout Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad make her spew Wi' perfect sconner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinner? Poor devil! see him owre his trash, As feckles as wither'd rash, His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash; His nieve a nit; Thro' blody flood or field to dash, O how unfit! But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread. Clap in his walie nieve a blade, He'll mak it whissle; An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned, Like taps o' trissle. Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind yer care, And dish them out their bill o' fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer Gie her a haggis!
〰️
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the pudding-race! Aboon them a' yet tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o'a grace As lang's me arm. The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o'need, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead. His knife see rustic Labour dight, An' cut you up wi' ready sleight, Trenching your gushing entrails bright, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm-reekin', rich! Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, Bethankit! hums. Is there that owre his French ragout Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad make her spew Wi' perfect sconner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinner? Poor devil! see him owre his trash, As feckles as wither'd rash, His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash; His nieve a nit; Thro' blody flood or field to dash, O how unfit! But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread. Clap in his walie nieve a blade, He'll mak it whissle; An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned, Like taps o' trissle. Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind yer care, And dish them out their bill o' fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer Gie her a haggis! 〰️
Who was Robert Burns?
Robert Burns is among the most respected and well-known poets in the world, and he is the most celebrated Scottish poet of all time. Many of his poems and songs have become part of the standard lexicon of traditions in the Western Hemisphere (e.g. “Auld Lang Syne”…). He was born in Scotland on January 25, 1759. For more than 200 years, Scots and their descendants have gathered to pay tribute to Robert Burns on or around January 25 in events known as Burns Suppers.
What is a Burns Supper?
Burns Suppers come in a variety of formats. There are some traditional elements that must be included. In the past, our Burns Supper encompassed a Scottish meal, toasts, a Burns tribute, poetry, Highland costumes, pipe music, and Highland dancing.
Our Twist on the Burns Supper
Macdonald Pipe Band’s modern-day Burns Supper is more of a Burns Pub Night. The free 21+ event is an essential fundraiser for us and a beloved community event. It does not include dinner or dancing, but the rest of the trappings are present. We have the Haggis presentation, complete with a piper-led parade through the venue and followed by a recitation of Burns’s famous address “To a Haggis.” There are toasts and songs and a pipe band finale. A taste of haggis and whisky are to be offered to all. The band also holds a basket raffle of wonderful prizes to raise funds for uniform and instrument parts and other band expenses.
For more information about the Burns Supper tradition, check out this Visit Scotland link.
To learn about the Burns Night we hosted in 2024, visit the band’s Event page on Facebook.
