Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o the puddin’-race!
Jan. 25 is Robbie Burns Day, marking the birthday of Scotland’s National Poet. On Friday afternoon, Lakeside Retirement residence in Innisfil welcomed residents and guests to its annual Robbie Burns Day celebration.
Marching behind piper Percy Robb, resident Bella Newsham brought in the Haggis, that traditional “Great Chieftain of the pudding race” – originally, a sheep’s stomach stuffed with offal, suet, oatmeal and seasoning.
Wearing his kilt, Robert McLean recited Burns’ Address to a Haggis.’ Wielding his “rustic” knife, McLean declaimed, “An cut you up wi ready slight/Trenching your gushing entrails bright/Like onie ditch. And then, O what a glorious sight – warm-reekin, rich!”
There were scones and apple juice for the residents (with a ‘wee dram’ for the Piper, and McLean as he toasted the Haggis), and a taste of haggis for anyone brave enough to try a sample.
The ceremony was followed by a performance by the King Edward Scottish Country Dancers, who provided a taste of Scottish history and culture. The dancers performed Burns’ song, Duncan Gray (Ha, Ha the Wooing o’t), then danced to “Willie’s Old Trousers” - a lament to the banning of the kilt in 1746, after the battle of Culloden, and the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
The Dress Act of 1746 made it illegal to wear “the Highland Dress,” including the kilt – a decision designed to crush highland identity.
Robbie Burns, 1759-1796, wrote in both English and the Scots language. Known as the Ploughman Poet and the Bard of Ayrshire, he helped promote the Highland spirit and identity, inspiring national pride – and lived to see the Dress Act repealed in 1782.
There were kilts and tartans a-plenty at Lakeside Retirement, as residents enjoyed the celebration, and joined the Scottish dancers in a waltz.
Other Robbie Burns celebrations planned this evening include the Robbie Burns Dinner at the Lefroy-Belle Ewart Legion in Innisfil, and the Barrie Pipes & Drums’ annual Robbie Burns Night, held this year at Liberty North Event Centre, 100 Caplan Ave. in Barrie. Advance tickets are needed for both events.
