Happy Burns' Night!!

[MacPhantom]

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Burns' Night! What the heck is Burns' Night, you might ask?? It's a holiday widely celebrated in Scotland and by transplanted Scots the world over every 25th of January, in honor of Scotland's national bard (or poet), Robert Burns. In a nutshell, it's an excuse to get together, put on your kilt, drink whisky, read Burns poetry and sing songs, and of course eat haggis! Which, I might add, has just been unbanned in the U.S. after over two decades!!! http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/2 ... fted-burns

For a dude who died over two hundred years ago, it may not seem worth having a whole holiday in his honor, but if you've ever sang Auld Lang Syne on New Year's, you owe Rabbie a debt of thanks for writing it (though he intended a different tune). His poem To a Mouse inspired the title of John Steinbeck's classic Of Mice and Men. And hey... It's an excuse to drink WHISKY!! I mean, come on!!!! And in the spirit of Halloween, if you want a rip-roarin' good tale about ghoulies and witches, check out Tam O'Shanter!!

Cheers everybody!

[Nikolantern]

What does haggis taste like?

[witchy]

Cheers!!

[Spookymufu]

I celebrate Burns day too, but it's in honor of George Burns, I light a cigar and say "say good night Gracie" to my wife all night long

[Nikolantern]

I celebrate Burns day too, but it's in honor of George Burns

Ha ha.

[Andybev01]

I celebrate Burns day too, but it's in honor of George Burns, I light a cigar and say "say good night Gracie" to my wife all night long

which probably drives her to drink whiskey.

[Spookymufu]

probably but after I fall asleep she can do whatever she wants.......to a point

[MacPhantom]

What does haggis taste like?

It's hard to describe. If you've ever had scrapple, a breakfast dish popular in the mid-Atlantic U.S., it's sort of like that, only crunchier because of the oats, and pepperier. It tastes kind of livery, but not as strong as beef liver. Because it's made from sheep, it has a distinct taste that's hard to describe if you've never had it. If you ever have the chance, I highly recommend it!

[Murfreesboro]

My goodness, I hadn't thought about this in ages! I've never celebrated it, but I do recall reading in lit class about Robert Burns's Night.

I actually majored in 18th century in grad school, so I ought to know more about Burns than I do. I have read some of his poems, of course, but I never concentrated on him. I was all about the English satirists back then.

It's neat that there is a whole country of people who actually celebrate a poet like that--

[adrian]

i've never heard of it before but thanks for the info mac i'm always looking for a good excuse to drink the brown liquors... now if i can just get my hand on some haggis

[Nikolantern]

Now if I can just get my hand on some haggis...

I'd love to tire haggis!

[MacPhantom]

My goodness, I hadn't thought about this in ages! I've never celebrated it, but I do recall reading in lit class about Robert Burns's Night.

I actually majored in 18th century in grad school, so I ought to know more about Burns than I do. I have read some of his poems, of course, but I never concentrated on him. I was all about the English satirists back then.

It's neat that there is a whole country of people who actually celebrate a poet like that--

The odd thing about Rabbie Burns is that he was enormously famous in Scotland while he was alive, even though he died in his thirties. Most poets don't gain any recognition until they're long dead, but because he was such a prolific writer, and because he wrote in the Scottish dialect, he got to enjoy his success a bit. Of course, his torrid love affairs certainly added to his celebrity...

[Belladonna]

I always liked ole Robbie. I had forgotten about Burn's Night.

[TheCostumer]

I have attended Burns Night suppers.

They are great and i even like the haggis!

[witchy]

TheCostumer, it's nice to meet you!!

I have never heard of this before, Burn's night? Sounds like a lot of fun tho!!