Ultimate Guide to Burns Night

The first Burns supper was held in 1801 and in the 200+ years since then new traditions have been added but the sentiment remains the same: to pay tribute to our national poet. Learn how to host the perfect Burns supper here.

Food

The centrepiece of any good Burns Supper menu is the iconic haggis, or as the bard himself described it, the 'great chieftain o' the puddin'-race'. 

Learn more

Drinks

Whisky is the usual choice at Burns Suppers, either malts or blends. Contrary to popular belief, adding a little water to your malt may improve rather than dilute the flavour, although some whisky drinkers may not take kindly to watering down their drams!

Learn more

Poetry

Traditional recitals on the evening include the 'Selkirk Grace' and the 'Address to a Haggis'. Other recitals on the evening include a speech commemorating Burns and a toast to the great man, known as the 'Immortal Memory', the 'Address to the Lassies' and of course 'The Reply from the Lassies', which are normally created especially for the evening. 

Learn more

What to wear

If you're hosting this event at home then literally anything goes, but it is definitely recommended that you wear at least a little bit of tartan! Whether it be a tartan hat, a tartan tie, or the full kilt get up, it's entirely up to you.

Learn more

The life and death of Burns

Burns had a genius for putting himself into the shoes of others and sympathising with their plight. His greatest works gave a unique and vivid insight into the aspirations and anguishes of the brotherhood of man and his words maintain their powerful meaning today. 

Learn more

symbolset/rightCombined ShapePage 1Page 1MAP/CLOSEMAP/CLOSEyoutube black circleGroup