And Days of Auld Lang Syne

Take a moment, close your eyes, and think of all the things that come into your mind when you think of Scotland. I'm talking bagpipes, kilts, outrageous accents, haggis, everything. Whatever you're thinking, there is a good chance that it is bound to be present at a standard Burns Supper. The whole event is so Scottish, it isn't even funny. Like, imagine being punched in the face by a single nationality, and there you have it: the Burns Supper.

The famous Robert Burns, born in 1759 and dying in 1796.

The Burns Supper is, you guessed it, a tribute to Robert Burns: the unofficial "national poet" of Scotland, a clever lyricist, and a notorious ladies' man. You might think of him as the man who wrote "Auld Lang Syne," which is sung around the world in countless languages around the New Year. Normally held around Burns' birthday at the end of January, it is a formal and traditional gathering full of Scottish music, poetry, speeches, and culture. Dollar Academy held its Burns Supper a bit later on the 6th of February, and was only open to Form VI pupils, teachers, and local governors from the area. After weeks of excitement, anxiety regarding table placement, and a bit of nervousness from the performers, everyone was thoroughly looking forward to the occasion.

A bagpiper playing his tunes as the guests arrived. 

The event began in the traditional Burns Supper way: the piping in of the Haggis. It's exactly what it sounds like: someone carries in a plate of the concoction trailed by a bagpiper playing "Scotland the Brave" (yes, that's the song you think of when you imagine bagpipes). Then, a chosen speaker has the honor of reading Burns' "Address to a Haggis," which you can read here for a good laugh, and the meal begins. After the haggis, neeps and tatties for a starter, the main course was a traditional roast rib and gravy, and then my favorite Scottish dessert: Cranachan. No, that's not a deep-sea monster; it's a mousse-like mixture with raspberries and oats, usually flavored with some spirits. Copious amounts of whisky are usually a necessity for a Burns Supper, but since 1. it was on a Monday night, 2. most of us were underage, and 3. we were surrounded by school authority figures and prestigious governors from the area, we had to settle for a few glasses of wine instead.

Form VI Heyworth girls, finally ready for Burns Night.

After we were all drifting into food comas, the real event began. Unfortunately, I don't have many pictures of the event due to its formal nature, but some may be published later on the Dollar website. The poems included "Epistle to a Young Friend" and Allan Water," ranging in topics from nature to women. Speaking of which, the Toast to the Lassies (and the reply) was quite possibly the best part of the night; the speaker, a boarder for 13 years at Dollar, was humorous and political yet polite enough for the occasion. The toast to the school and its reply by a teacher was touching, and produced a sense of nostalgia for the new and the old alike. There was quite a bit of banter thrown around from both boys and girls, teachers and students: everyone seemed content with the sharp and mocking humor, but that's not out of place in Scotland anyway.

The performances at Dollar's Burns Supper were absolutely amazing, if I do say so myself. The Form VI boys from the Chamber Choir performed "The Deil's Awa' wi' th'Exiceman," while the form VI girls (myself included) echoed with "O Whistle an' I'll Come to You."Others played their instruments for the entertainment of the crowd, including an absolutely beautiful Celtic duet featuring the pipes and an acoustic guitar. It's somewhat strange to see the people you might sit next to in class exhibiting an impressive talent you never knew they had-- in this way, the Burns Supper was also a way to appreciate each other for both our skills and our company.

Even though I understood exactly 0% of the Scots language spoken, and a few old school references flew right over my head, the event was still a memorable experience in which I was proud to participate. It especially reminded me of the proud, rich nationality that surrounds me, one that I will now be a part of for the rest of my life. I guess the Burns Supper was, then, sort of an initiation ceremony into the Scottish world, not unlike Culver's Cresting ceremony that occurs around this time of year. It's impossible to attend a Burns Supper and not feel even a little Scottish afterwards, anyway. Let's hope that it leads to many more moments of feeling Scottish in the future.