Burns Supper Perth

The Burns Supper takes place on the 25th of January throughout both Perth and the length of Scotland. Here is what takes place:

Piping in of the top table guests
The night begins with the sound of the bagpipes and the stand and clapp in time to the music.

Chairman's Welcome
The Chairman welcomes everyone and introduces guests..

The Selkirk Grace
The meal commences with the recital of Selkirk Grace, which is actually the prayer read aloud before the meal :

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.

Parade of the Haggis
Guests stand to welcome their wonderful haggis, by clapping their hands slowly, while the piper leads the chef to the top table.

Address to the Haggis
This is a threatening moment for the haggis, which is about to be stabbed by the chairman after he pronounces the last words it will ever hear: The 'Address to the haggis'!
The address should ideally be accompanied by some gestures to give a hint to those who are not familiar with the poet's language and be followed by the guests toasting the haggis with whisky.

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn, 
they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve,
Are bent lyke drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
"Bethankit!" 'hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him ower his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro' bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned,
Like taps o' thrissle.

Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer,
Gie her a haggis!

The Menu
A typical Burns' night menu would typically comprise of:

• soup
• Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties and
• a sherry trifle

The Immortal Memory
This speech comes in many different forms  ranging from funny to literary and historical, but the main point is to praise Burns as a great man and poet.

Toast to  the Lassies
This toast aims to outline the importance of women in the life of the poet and in ours. It is given by a male guest in thanks to the women who have prepared the meal.

Reply to the Toast to the Lassies                                                                                           A woman will stand and reply to the previous toast, thanking the . She might also make a reference to Burns' women and life.

Poems and songs
Favourite poems and recitations which usually follow are "Tam o' Shanter", "To A Mouse" and "Holy Willie's Prayer". Finally, the night ends with everyone joining hands and singing "Auld Lang Syne".