Virtual Robert Burns Night?

How about haggis?

I have an annual reminder on my work calendar to read a Burns poem every Jan 25th. If you haven't read Ode to a Haggis, you should.
My limited experience with Burns night was when I was Scottish Country Dancing. It was great fun, but as dancing and whisky doesn't mix well it was more about reals and less about toasts...though haggis was on the menu as were poems during dinner.
A google search shows the Ottawa Scottish Society has moved to virtual as we are in our 2nd state of emergency at present. You may have to join the society to get the link, but here is where you can learn about it https://ottscot.ca/burns-supper-ottawa
It will give you an idea of how to expand your searches.

I attended a Burns Night many years ago, in Toronto, arranged by a group of amateur soccer players. It was an all male event (I don't know if that's the tradition), plenty of speeches, bad jokes, food and drinking. The Scots were all wearing kilts. An expensive event, due to the range of single malts provided. As a rule, I'm not a big drinker of the hard stuff, and by taste I wouldn't know which of the whiskies were aged longer, or which were more expensive. In general, though, I do prefer singe malts to blended Scotch.

I don't see a virtual Burns Night as being much fun.

Virtual haggis would be a definite improvement over the real thing.

I wrote a paper on Robert Burns for a high school Lit class. This was back in the mid ‘80s. I can still rattle off the first few lines of “To A Mouse” in a very poor Scottish accent! I like the idea of reading one of his poems on the day. Neat way to toast the event!

Virtual haggis would be a definite improvement over the real thing.

Ha Ha!

Actually, if you've ever had one from a traditional Scots butcher, you might like it!
I think they are delicious myself.

My family is holding a Burns Supper family Zoom. People are setting their own menus, but I've ordered canned haggis, instant cock-a-leekie soup and fudge and shortbread for dessert, and will supplement with chicken pot pie since I don't know if I'm going to like canned haggis.

We're all going to wear our Buchanan tartans. My sister is looking for Scottish trivia questions and I'm putting together a playlist of appropriate music. We've been looking at the Alexandria Burns Club Annual Supper website for ideas: http://www.robertburns.org.uk/burns_supper.htm

An alternative to family might be to build your own Zoom dinner party, inviting friends who might want to read poetry in cheesy Scottish accents.

Good luck, have fun!
Marty

While it’s not on the actual Robbie Burns night, Elsa McTaggart will be doing a Rabbie Burns concert on Jan. 30 from where she lives on the Isle of Lewis. Tickets are usually £5 for about an hour and a half concert and she streams to a Facebook group. You can find a link to buy on her Facebook page. She is very entertaining!

Thank you all for the comments and especially for the links and tip about Elsa McTaggart. A virtual party will have its limitations for sure. I think I can organize something scaled down to just a little music, a few poetry verses, some sharing of culinary adventures, and a toast or three. I may even be willing to humiliate myself and inflict my attempt at a Scottish brogue. I found an Americanized recipe for haggis and cock-a-leakie soup I think I can handle too. I hope to visit Scotland in 2022 and try the real thing there.

I'm partial to "To a Louse (On Seeing One on a Lady's Bonnet at Church)".
Can you get haggis at Kwik Trip?

I don't know if there any Kwik Trips near me. I did learn that there is such a thing as canned haggis though. I would definitely try it in Scotland even though I didn't much care for steak and kidney pie in England. I'll look up that louse poem for sure!

I had Haggis in Aberdeen. Didn’t think I’d like it but I did.

For you Northern and Southern California Scottish fans I’d like to recommend this organization. Covid has caused a big pause in their events calendar but during a normal year this is a very talented and active group.

http://www.scottishfiddlersofcalifornia.org/

Our son’s family has participated in camps, performances and the annual (alas, not this year) Robert Burns Night in the Northern California section. We’ve been to some great spring performances over the years too.

I'll be having a traditional Burn's Night tonight.

A take away curry.

Ha ha! Love it.
Will you be following that up with a deep-fried Mars bar?

At the end of tonight's Monday Night Travel (first taping 6 pm PST) Rick saluted Robert Burns with a glass of Scotch whiskey -- no idea what happened on the 7:30 second session.

We watched the 7:30 program and after sipping limoncello for the first half, he switched to sipping whiskey for the last section. Dave poured himself a wee dram and joined in 😀

limoncello for Burns Night.... different

Scotland makes Whisky. Whiskey comes from Ireland!!!

Ha ha! Love it.
Will you be following that up with a deep-fried Mars bar?

In the end I had a American diner burger and Oreo ice cream.

"We cam' tae Ayr tae see your hoose
An' pay oor due respects
The rain was runnin' like a sluice
An' drippin doon oor necks

We saw nae man like you, Rab
Nae lassie like Jean Armour
I don't know where you are the noo
But you're better off, and warmer"

Gerald Strain

It's a wee bit late, but hope you enjoy.

Mike (Auchterless)

p.s.: Haggis is good with a wee bit of HP sauce (not the fruity kind!).

Good one Mike!