The end of January brings a celebration of all things Scottish. If you want to mark the occasion with a sartorial flourish, read on…
Who was Robbie Burns?
Born 1759 in Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland, Robert Burns began life as the eldest son of a tenant farming family. By the time he departed this world aged just 37, he did so as nothing less than the national poet of Scotland. Well regarded as a writer, songwriter and political commentator in his own time, his work became nationally important after his death, with his life celebrated every year at Burns Night.
Why is he so important?
Emerging just before the Romantic period of Wordsworth, Coleridge etc, his writing combined a sentimental love of the land with an elevated poetic touch. What’s more, Burns was one of the few writers to compose works in the Scots language and Scots dialect, alongside his writings in English. He was also greatly interested in folk songs and folk culture, incorporating this into his poetry. He was also a songwriter of some repute; ever heard Auld Lang Syne? That’ll be one of his.
This mix of literary importance and sentimental grounding in rural Scotland, along with his sad early death, makes him a powerful figure in Scottish culture.
The Haggis in all its glory
Image Credit: BBC
The centrepiece of any Burns night is of course, the haggis. This rough, folksy pudding has a fearsome reputation that we’re not sure it really deserves. Admittedly the list of ingredients might draw a sharp intake of breath - sheep’s lung, heart and liver, mixed with suet, oatmeal and spices, stuffed into a sheep’s stomach and poached. However, the flavour is much better than it suggests - think Cumberland sausage with more spices and a rougher texture. In fact it’s one of many similar traditional recipes for offal and animal byproducts, a great number of which are still popular today in France and Spain.
The haggis is traditionally served alongside neeps and tatties, or mashed swede and potatoes, and is accompanied by a whisky-cream sauce. While it is still somewhat popular and prized in its traditional form, versions with artificial casings and even vegetarian and vegan versions are widely available, bringing the tradition to more and more people.
The Chieftain o’ the Puddin’ Race
Image Credit: ADK Taste
Speaking of whisky, there is a great deal of ceremony to a traditional Burns night supper. While they can vary from having a few friends over to a large formal dinner, there are some traditions that must be observed:
Music
At larger occasions, the guests are “piped in”, that is, a traditional bagpiper plays to welcome the dinner attendees. Clearly this is only for the grandest of occasions, but a bit of traditional Scottish music of some sort is in order here. Many dinner setups have a high table, which is seated last, after which a round of applause is given to the piper.
The Selkirk Grace
The chair stands to welcome the guests, followed by a reading of The Selkirk Grace, a short prayer by Robert Burns himself -
Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.
The Star Attraction
Usually, the meal will include a starter, perhaps something traditional such as cock-a-leekie soup, with the star component saved for the main course. Diners should stand as the haggis is paraded in on a silver platter carried by the chef, ahead of which proceeds a bagpiper, behind which comes the person who is to address the haggis. There may also be a whisky-bearer, ensuring that guests do not go thirsty (ironically, Burns himself was known to avoid alcohol for religious reasons). There follows a reading of the poem “Address to a Haggis” by Burns, written in Scots, which begins thus -
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 of a grace
As lang ‘s my arm.
On the last line of the poem (which extends to a few verses), the guests rapturously applaud, after which dinner is served and the celebrations continue long into the night. Highlights include readings and songs from Burns’ works, as well as the “Toast to the Lassies”, which is generally a light hearted and (mostly) complimentary address to the women present. This is always followed by the Lassies’ Reply, offering the chance for some revenge…
How to dress for Burns Night
Image Credit: Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers
While convention dictates a tie or a bowtie along with the obligatory kilt, a cravat might just be the perfect thing to wear for a Burns night dinner. The combination of high tradition, light-hearted celebration and genuine bacchanalia means that the environment is exactly right. The ease of wearing along with the elevated dress required of such an occasion is simply the ideal habitat for your favourite cravat.
We think that traditional patterns are your best bet here; polka-dots, paisleys and plain silks in rich tones are perfect. Our Burns Night Collection gives you a palette to work from when choosing your accessories - remember this is the dead of winter, and tweeds and tartans are the order of the day, so we recommend choosing accordingly.
For example, our Madder silk cravats offer subdued patterns in dark, brooding shades, with the Acheron cravat in rust, forest green, gold and khaki proving a debonair partner to a tweed jacket. Likewise, a plain silk cravat such as the Malbec gives you a classic shade to dress the occasion with.
Should your jacket (or indeed, your kilt) pair better with cooler tones, then the Flint polka dot cravat and/or pocket square should combine beautifully with their slate grey base colour and pink detailing. In a different direction, the classic paisley in our Atticus cravat uses deep blues and reds to stunning effect, referencing the Scottish origins of the pattern.
Speaking of Scottish origins, it would hardly be a Burns Night without some tartan present. If you feel uncomfortable with the kilt/sporran combo, then a simple and elegant tartan tie such as the Monroe allows you to pay the proper respect to the country without getting into national dress.
And finally, if you’re looking to go all out, then a silk evening tie such as the devastating Huntsman II offers even the simplest jacket an opulence that can hardly be rivalled. Just ensure you tuck it safely out of the way for dinner!
Whether you’re heading out to an opulent traditional evening, or just getting together with a few friends, we hope you’ll enjoy your celebration of all things Scottish this January. Slàinte Mhath!
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