The Format for a Traditional Burns Supper

Chairman's Opening Address
Selkirk Grace
Bill o' Fare
The Immortal Memory
Toast to the Lasses
Poem and Songs
Informal Burns Nights

A few welcoming words start the evening and the meal commences with the "Selkirk Grace".

Selkirk Grace

Some hae meat and cannot eat.
Some cannot eat that want it:
But we hae meat and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be thankit.

The company are asked to stand to receive the haggis. A piper then leads the chef, carrying the haggis to the top table, while the guests accompany them with a slow handclap.  The chairman or invited guest then recites Burns' famous poem "To A Haggis", with great enthusiasm.  When he reaches the line "an cut you up wi ready slight", he cuts open the haggis with a sharp knife.

It's customary for the company to applaud the speaker then stand and toast the haggis with a glass of whisky.

The company will then dine.  A typical Bill o' Fare would be:

• Cock a leekie soup
• Haggis warm reeking, rich wi' Champit Tatties
• Bashed Neeps (basically haggis served hot with mashed potatoes and turnips with onion gravy)
• Tyspy Laird (Sherry Trifle)
• A Tassie o' Coffee

The Immortal Memory
One of the central features of the evening, an invited guest is asked to give a short speech on Burns. There are many different types of Immortal Memory speeches, from light-hearted to literary, but the aim is the same - to outline the greatness and relevance of the poet today.

Toast to the Lasses
The main speech is followed by a more light-hearted addres to the women in the audience.  Originally this was a thank you to the ladies for preparing the food and a time to toast the "lasses" in Burns' life.  The tone should be witty, but never offensive, and should always end on a conciliatory note.

Response
The turn of the lasses to detail men's foibles. Again, should be humorous but not insulting.

Poem and Songs
Once the speeches are complete the evening continues with songs and poems.  There should be a good variety to fully show the different moods of Burns muse.  Favourites for recitations are "Tam O'Shanter", "Address to the Unco Guid", "To a Mouse" and "Holy Willie's Prayer".

The evening will culminate with the company standing, linking hands and singing "Auld Lang Syne" to conclude the programme.

Informal Burns Nights
However, not all Burns Nights follow the exact format mentioned above.  The haggis - an acquired taste which now comes in a vegetarian option - is normally served as a small course, not as the main course, for a formal dinner.  Smothered with some good gravy, with seasoned mashed potatoes and turnip, it's a great belly-warmer for a cold night in late January!

Some Burns evenings do not have the Immortal Memory or the Address to the Haggis - as some organisers may find it difficult to find someone local and available to do this.

But what all events should have is the recital of some of the great man's best loved poems, music, song or dance and a carefree and fun-filled atmosphere for young and old alike.