What is Burns Night?
Burns Night is held on or around 25 January to mark the birthday of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, who was born in Alloway, Ayrshire, in 1759. His friends held the first Burns Supper in his memory in 1801, and the tradition has spread around the world. In 2027, 25 January falls on a Monday, so many people will hold their supper on the weekend before.
A simple running order
1. Guests arrive and the host welcomes everyone. 2. The Selkirk Grace is said. 3. The haggis is piped or carried in, and the Address to a Haggis is read; the speaker cuts the haggis and everyone toasts it. 4. Dinner: soup, haggis with neeps and tatties, then a pudding such as cranachan. 5. The Immortal Memory, a speech about Burns's life and work. 6. A Toast to the Lassies and the Reply from the Lassies. 7. Songs and poems. 8. Everyone stands, joins hands and sings Auld Lang Syne.
The readings
The Selkirk Grace is short and said before the meal. Address to a Haggis has eight verses; the reader cuts the haggis in the third verse. Our free printable has both in full, in Burns's own Scots.
The Burns Night supper kit
The kit has traditional and vegetarian menus, the running order, both readings, a who-does-what page for speeches and toasts, a Burns quiz with answers, place cards, a word search and Auld Lang Syne, in Tartan and Thistle. A4 and US Letter, $3.99.
