Every January 25, Scots (and lovers of all things Scottish) celebrate Burns Night in honor of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns (more about this great character over on Worldkind's blog!).

In "normal times," those glorious pre-pandemic days of "Auld Lang Syne," Burns Suppers are hosted in-person across Scotland and all over the world. These dinners are wonderful social gatherings during the darkest evenings of the year, to eat haggis, neeps, and tatties, drink whisky, recite poetry, and enjoy an evening of cultural celebration and good humor. 

 

Alas, such large gatherings in person are not as feasible this year, but, like you, we're tired of cherished traditional events being canceled. So . . . we've decided to make well, haggis, out of all the offal bits handed to us by COVID, and we're moving our celebration online and welcoming everyone! 

 

So, if you love learning about other cultures, meeting new like-minded folks, hearing Burns' poetry recited by Scottish friends, and raising a wee dram in honor of the Bard, then break the cabin fever and JOIN US as Scot and Scholar Dr. Kathleen Burt leads us in celebrating this Scottish tradition in a non-traditional, virtual way. We'll also have Ruth Salter, Doctoral Researcher and Burns expert from the University of Edinburgh, giving a short talk on the topic "Freedom Come All Ye" that discusses the enduring appeal of Burns and the Scottish Folk Revival. 

We'll be hosting our Virtual Burns Supper on Google Meet, from 5.30-6:30 pm EST on January 26th (Yes, we know it’s actually the day after Burns’ Birthday - but we don't want to clash with any real-world Burns Night plans that might still be happening). Space is limited on Google Meet, so please RSVP to reserve your spot.

Then, join us on Wednesday, pour yourself a wee dram of whatever you prefer, grab your haggis, and try preparing some of the traditional recipes at home, which we'll be sharing over the next few days on our blog along with other fun facts and folktales related to Burns Supper. Check out Kathleen's shortbread recipe along with a short history of that tasty treat that was already posted for a sample of what's to come. 

 

Slàinte mhath!