Burns supper

Piping in the guests

A piper or other traditional music welcome the guests.

Welcome

A short welcome to the guests.

The Selkirk Grace

The Selkirk Grace is recited to usher in the food.

Piping in the haggis

The haggis enters the room accompanied by a piper, the cook and the person who will address the haggis.

Address to the haggis

The reader of "To a Haggis" also holds a knife which is used to cut open the haggis dramatically with the line "His knife see Rustic-labour dight". In the process the reader ensures that the contents spill out and is synchronized with the reading of "trenching its gushing entrails". Finally the haggis is raised for the appreciation of the audience with the reading of the final line "Gie her a Haggis!".

Toast to the haggis

The guests toast the haggis shouting "The Haggis!"

The meal

The main course consists of the haggis along with neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes).

The first entertainment

A performance of a Burns song or a recital of a Burns poem

The Immortal Memory

The Immortal Memory is a speech to commemorate the achievements of Robert Burns. Themes include his literary genius and his nationalism. It concludes with a toast: "To the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns!"

The second entertainment

A performance of one of Burns’s songs or poems.

The toast to the lassies

This is usually a humorous toast to praise women, often using quotations from Burns's works. It concludes with a toast: "To the Lassies!".

The third entertainment

A performance of one of Burns’s songs or poems.

The reply to the toast to the lassies

This reply to the men's toast is usually a witty response also citing from Burns's works. Often viewed as a competitive chance for the women to upstage the men with a more clever or humourous toast.

Final entertainment

A performance of one of Burns’s songs or poems.

Vote of thanks

This brings the formal dinner to an end followed by a rendition of Auld Lang Syne by all the guests.