Scottish Cultural Centre

01/24/2025

The Burns Supper is an institution of Scottish life: a night to celebrate the life and works of the national Bard. Suppers can range from an informal gathering of friends to a huge, formal dinner full of pomp and circumstance. This running order covers all the key elements you need to plan and structure a Burns Supper that suits your intentions.
• Piping in the guests
A big-time Burns Night calls for a piper to welcome guests. If you don't want all that baggage, some traditional music will do nicely. For more formal events, the audience should stand to welcome arriving guests: the piper plays until the high table is ready to be seated, at which point a round of applause is due. At a more egalitarian gathering - with no high table - the chair can simply bang on the table to draw attention to the start of the evening's proceedings.
• Chairman's welcome
The Chair (host/organiser) warmly welcomes and introduces the assembled guests and the evening's entertainment.
• The Selkirk Grace
A short but important prayer read to usher in the meal, The Selkirk Grace is also known as Burns's Grace at Kirkcudbright. Although the text is often printed in English, it is usually recited in Scots.
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.
• Piping in the haggis
Guests should normally stand to welcome the dinner's star attraction, which should be delivered on a silver platter by a procession comprising the chef, the piper and the person who will address the Haggis. A whisky-bearer should also arrive to ensure the toasts are well lubricated.
During the procession, guests clap in time to the music until the Haggis reaches its destination at the table. The music stops and everyone is seated in anticipation of the address To a Haggis.
Address to the haggis
The honoured reader now seizes their moment of glory by offering a fluent and entertaining rendition of To a Haggis. The reader should have his knife poised at the ready. On cue (His knife see Rustic-labour dight), he cuts the casing along its length, making sure to spill out some of the tasty gore within (trenching its gushing entrails).
Warning: it is wise to have a small cut made in the haggis skin before it is piped in. Instances are recorded of top table guests being scalded by flying pieces of haggis when enthusiastic reciters omitted this precaution! Alternatively, the distribution of bits of haggis about the assembled company is regarded in some quarters as a part of the fun...
The recital ends with the reader raising the haggis in triumph during the final line Gie her a haggis!, which the guests greet with rapturous applause.
Toast to the haggis
Prompted by the speaker, the audience now joins in the toast to the haggis. Raise a glass and shout: The haggis! Then it's time to serve the main course with its traditional companions, neeps and tatties. In larger events, the piper leads a procession carrying the opened haggis out to the kitchen for serving; audience members should clap as the procession departs.
The meal
Served with some suitable background music, the sumptuous Bill o' Fare includes:-
• Starter
Traditional cock-a-leekie soup;
• Main course
Haggis, neeps & tatties (Haggis wi' bash*t neeps an' champit tatties);
• Sweet
Clootie Dumpling (a pudding prepared in a linen cloth or cloot) or Typsy Laird (a Scottish sherry trifle);
• Cheeseboard with bannocks (oatcakes) and tea/coffee.
Variations do exist: beef lovers can serve the haggis, neeps & tatties as a starter with roast beef or steak pie as the main dish. Vegetarians can of course choose vegetarian haggis, while pescatarians could opt for a seafood main course such as Cullen Skink.
For more detailed information about the food on Burns Night, read How to host a Burns Night supper over on the BBC Food blog.
The drink
Liberal lashings of wine or ale should be served with dinner and it's often customary to douse the haggis with a splash of whisky sauce, which, with true Scots understatement, is neat whisky.
After the meal, it's time for connoisseurs to compare notes on the wonderful selection of malts served by the generous chair.
The first entertainment
The nervous first entertainer follows immediately after the meal. Often it will be a singer or musician performing Burns songs such as:-
• My Luve is Like a Red Red Rose;
• Rantin', Rovin' Robin;
• John Anderson, my jo; or
• Ae Fond Kiss, and Then We Sever.
Alternatively it could be a moving recital of a Burns poem, with perennial preference for:-
• Tam o' Shanter;
• Holy Willie's Prayer;
• To a Louse;
• Address to the Unco Guid; or
• For a' that and a' that.
The immortal memory
The keynote speaker takes the stage to deliver a spell-binding oratoration on the life of Robert Burns: his literary genius, his politics, his highs and lows, his human frailty and - most importantly - his nationalism. The speech must bridge the dangerous chasm between serious intent and sparkling wit, painting a colourful picture of Scotland's beloved Bard.
The speaker concludes with a heart-felt toast: To the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns!
The second entertainment
The chair introduces more celebration of Burns' work, preferably a poem or song to complement the earlier entertainment.
Toast to the Lassies
The humorous highlight of any Burns Night comes in this toast, which is designed to praise the role of women in the world today. This should be done by selective quotation from Burns's works and should build towards a positive note. Particular reference to those present makes for a more meaningful toast.
The toast concludes: To the Lassies!
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The final entertainment
The final course of the evening's entertainment comprises more Burns readings.
Reply to the Toast to the Lassies
Revenge for the women present as they get their chance to reply.
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Vote of thanks
The chair now climbs to his potentially unsteady feet to thank everyone who has contributed to a wonderful evening and to suggest that taxis will arrive shortly.
Auld Lang Syne
The chair closes the proceedings by inviting guests to stand and belt out a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne. The company joins hands and sings as one, having made sure to brush up on those difficult later lines.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/burns_night_running_order.shtml

09/20/2024

Love Happens At The Scottish Centre! Right Here in Beautiful Vancouver BC

06/07/2024

See you at ScotFestBC / BC Highland Games, Town Centre Park in Coquitlam June 14 & 15!!
https://scotfestbc.com/weekend-schedule-2024/
https://scotfestbc.com/tickets/

Tickets Everyone must have a ticket to enter ScotFestBC on Saturday June 15, 2024 Online Ticket Sales Come see Juno award winner Ashley MacIsaac, live, Saturday night June 15. Friday Night 2024 2024 ScotFestBC opens with a bang. Our 5th Annual Celtic Kick Off Ceilidh in the Big Tent is Friday, June....

04/05/2024

HAPPY TARTAN DAY!! April 6, 2024

About 15.1% or 4.7 million Canadians claim Scottish descent.

Tartan Day (French: Journée du Tartan) in Canada, first held in Nova Scotia in 1987, originated with a proposal by Bill Crowell and Jean MacKeracher-Watson at a meeting of the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia on March 9, 1986.[2]

MacKeracher-Watson, president of the Clan Lamont Society of Canada, petitioned provincial legislatures to recognize April 6 as Tartan Day. The first such proclamation was by Nova Scotia in April 1987. On December 19, 1991, in response to action initiated by the Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada, the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming 6 April as Tartan Day, following the example of some other Canadian provinces. Tartan Day has since been proclaimed by all the provincial legislatures. In 2007, Peter Stoffer introduced a private member's bill for "An Act respecting a Tartan Day". Progress of the bill was interrupted by the 2008 election; resubmitted after the election, it was unsuccessful.

Canada declared National Tartan Day in October 2010, the first official national event being held in 2011. In the national capital, Ottawa, Ontario, an annual Gathering of the Clans takes place each year, usually on April 6 or the Sunday nearest to it, on Parliament Hill at noon with pipes, drums, and dancing hosted by the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, Canada's oldest civilian pipe band. The 2023 celebrations were on April 23, and were the 15th year that the pipe band has hosted the event. Canada's official tartan is the Maple Leaf tartan, designed in 1964 became an official national symbol in March 2011 ahead of Tartan Day.

In 2015, Minister of Canadian Heritage Shelly Glover issued a statement in support of National Tartan Day and the Maple Leaf tartan, and tied the event to celebration that year of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first prime minister of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald (born in Scotland), and the 50th anniversary of the current flag of Canada, among other events. Glover wrote of "the contributions of the Scots and their descendants to the social fabric of our country" and "the historical links between Scotland and Canada".

01/25/2024

Happy Robert Burns Day! January 25th

Here's a wee rundown on how to celebrate Burns Day

The national poet of Scotland is Robert Burns (1759-1796). He was a poet and lyricist who wrote in both Scotch Gaelic and English. A Scottish cultural icon, his poems are a bedrock of Scotland’s national identity. Among his many compositions are "A Red, Red Rose", "Tam O’ Shanter" and, of course, "Address to a Haggis".

The tradition of the Robbie Burns Dinner began five years after his death when a group of his devoted friends hosted a dinner to celebrate his life and work. The tradition caught on and was usually held on or around his birthday, January 25th. That date, often referred to as Robert Burns Day, has become Scotland’s unofficial National Day. In fact, it’s more widely celebrated in Scotland than the official national observance of St. Andrew’s Day.

At the heart of the celebration is the Burns Supper or Burns Night—a traditional Scottish dinner typically accompanied by numerous speeches, recitations of Burns poetry and, of course, numerous toasts accompanied by drams of Scotland’s golden elixir.

The traditional Burns Supper begins with a soup course. This is usually a classic Scottish soup like Scotch broth, potato soup, Cullen skink (a thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions) or cock-a-leekie (a soup dish consisting of leeks and peppered chicken stock).

The highlight of the dinner is the serving of the haggis—a traditional Scottish pudding comprised of the heart, liver and lungs of a sheep diced with onions, oatmeal, suet, spices and salt, which has been cooked in a sheep’s stomach.

Traditionally, the dinner party stands when the haggis is brought in by the cook. A bagpiper then pipes in the haggis while the cook presents it to the host. A distinguished guest or the host then recites the Burns poem "Address to a Haggis". When the recital has finished, a whisky toast is proposed, the first of many that will grace the evening.

Following coffee, the guests raise toasts to the memory of Robert Burns, punctuated by recitals of his poems. Traditionally the evening ends when a male guest gives an “Address to the Lassies,” ostensibly this was to thank and toast the women present for preparing the meal but was often used as an opportunity for the speaker to give his humorous but respectful views on women.

That toast was followed by a “Toast to the Laddies,” an opportunity for a female guest to give her views on men and to respond to any of the specific points raised by the previous speaker. The evening would end with additional recitations of Burns’ poems and songs culminating in a group singing of Auld Lange Syne.

Then it's on to the whiskies! What whiskies should you drink on Burns Night? Any Scotch whisky will do, although if you want to be historically accurate then look to single malt, cask strength offerings, ideally ones that were Sherry cask matured and that included some peated malt in their mash bills.

http://tinyurl.com/3x69dedx

11/30/2023

Happy Saint Andrew's Day!

Andrew lived in the first Century and was a fisherman before he became one of Jesus’ disciples. He became renowned for his Christian preaching. He too, like Jesus, was crucified, and this is represented by the cross on his flag. The town of St Andrews in Scotland, legend has it, is where the relics of St Andrew were brought by divine guidance from Constantinople. A Greek monk had a vision in which he was told to take the relics to the ends of the earth for safekeeping. His journey took him to the shores of Fife, where St Andrews now stands.

He became Patron Saint of Scotland in the middle of the 10th Century when Oengus II, King of the Picts led an army of Picts and Scots against the English near Athelstaneford in East Lothian. Oengus declared that if he won the battle then he would appoint Saint Andrew as Patron Saint of Scotland. The story goes that on the morning of the battle, the clouds are said to have formed a white cross across the blue sky and against all odds the battle was won and the design of the Saltire flag was born.

As a dedicated follower of Jesus, Andrew preached about Christ around the Black Sea and through Greece. It was in Greece that he was told to stop spreading the teachings by the governor Aegeas as he still believed in the Roman gods. When he refused, Andrew was sentenced to death by crucifixion in the city of Patras. Believing himself to be unworthy of the same fate as Jesus, Andrew requested an x-shaped cross. This is represented by the saltires which feature prominently on flags, such as Scotland’s, that acknowledge St Andrew.

St Andrew was pivotal in shaping Scottish society, and the societies of many other countries across the globe. He was known for his generosity and kindness, which is believed to be reflected in the warm and generous nature of Scotland and its people in the current day, which is why he celebrated and remembered so fondly.

St Andrews Day is celebrated on the 30th November every year and in Scotland since 2007 the Scottish parliament granted Scotland a bank holiday to celebrate. However, the first Saint Andrew's Day celebrations actually didn't take place in Scotland, but instead took place in the United States after a group of wealthy Scottish immigrants living in Charleston, South Carolina, decided to get together and celebrate their Scottish root and promote Saint Andrew’s philanthropic ideals, becoming famous in the area for their protection of widows and orphans, and so the St. Andrew's Society of Charleston was established in 1729 (the first St. Andrew's Society in North America). Similar Scottish societies were soon established across the United States and still remain today.
St Andrews Tartan

Scotland soon took inspiration from their American counterparts and began celebrating their Saint with ceilidh dancing and eating Scottish foods. There are many events held throughout Scotland. In East Lothian, the Saltire Festival, celebrates the saint and includes historical events, music, food and drink. While in Glasgow a torchlight procession is held with all funds raised going to charity to commemorate the generosity of the patron saint. The Oban Winter festival is held in the North of Scotland and includes whisky tastings, comedy ceilidh dancing, ice rinks and a Reindeer Parade.

It is not only Scotland and America who celebrate, held in Romania, Russia, Germany, Austria and Poland, all with people paying homage to their Scottish heritage or simply honouring the great saint. With our new base in Albany, NY we were delighted to make the acquaintance of Willard Bruce, Librarian and Historian of the St Andrew's Society of the City of Albany and you can read all about the history of their society dating back to 1803 in a separate blog.
What do you eat and drink on St Andrews Day?

Although there is no specific traditional St Andrews Day food, many will enjoy rich cultural feasts, where some of Scotland’s most classic fare is being prepared and shared. Some tasty Scottish foods that you could add to your St Andrews Day menu are Haggis, Neeps & Tatties, Cullen Skink, Arbroath Smokies, Salmon, Scotch Broth or Cock-a-leekie soup followed by a classic Cranachan.

Scotland is synonymous with whisky, which makes the perfect pairing for so many of the comforting dishes enjoyed on St Andrew’s Day.

11/22/2023

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11/01/2023

Today in 1695, Scotland made a serious bid to enter the lucrative English sea-trading market. The Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies issued a subscription list to stockholders in London. Later known as The Darien Company, £300,000 sterling was quickly raised, but London merchants saw it as a threat to their own East India Company. They put pressure on the King, and the English subscriptions were withdrawn at the behest of their government. Within a year, thanks mainly to the enthusiasm of a misguided company director, Scottish subscriptions brought the capital back up to £400,000 sterling, a considerable proportion of Scotland's entire wealth.

This was the beginning of the ill-fated Darien affair: all the capital was spent, as ships and many lives were lost in a series of disastrous expeditions to a malaria-infested colony on the Panama coast.

Noteworthy events from this day in Scottish History

06/30/2023

Our story producer Caroline Chan is looking for a tartan at the Scottish Cultural Centre.

06/16/2023

Looking forward to a fantastic 3-Day weekend of fun and inspirational activities at ScotFestBC Highland Games and World Music Festival! Get your tickets Now!

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04/06/2023

April 6th is Tartan Day

04/06/2023

Happy Tartan Day!

04/06/2023

Professor Kevin James will be presenting "Victorian Travelers in Scotland" online on Saturday, April 8, at 11 a.m. (EDT), 10 a.m. (CST) at the Scottish American History Forum organized by Chicago Scots.

To attend, use the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87358564144

or email [email protected]

Professor Kevin James, PhD is Scottish Studies Foundation Chair, and Professor of History, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

www.scottishstudies.com

THE SCOTTISH STUDIES FOUNDATION is a registered charitable organization dedicated to advancing the study of Scottish history and culture, including its many Canadian dimensions. In 2004 we endowed the landmark Scottish Studies Foundation Chair of Scottish Studies at the University of Guelph — the ...

04/04/2023

The Declaration of Arbroath will be
displayed at the National Museum
of Scotland this summer for the
first time in 18 years. The display
has been organised in partnership
between National Museums Scotland and
National Records of Scotland, who are
custodians of the document. The famous
document will be on show from 3 June to 2
July 2023. The document has not been on
public display for 18 years, when it was last
displayed at the Scottish Parliament. The iconic
and fragile 700-year-old document,
which is cared for and preserved for
future generations by National Records
of Scotland, can only be displayed

occasionally in order to ensure its long-
term preservation. The Declaration was
initially due to be displayed in April 2020
to coincide with its 700th anniversary,
but this had to be postponed due to the
pandemic. The new summer date has been
chosen to give as many people as possible
the rare chance to see one of Scotland’s
most important historical documents.
The Declaration of Arbroath is a letter
dated 6 April 1320, written by the barons
and freeholders of Scotland, on behalf of
the Kingdom of Scotland, to Pope John
XXII asking him to recognise Scotland’s
independence and acknowledge Robert
the Bruce as the country’s lawful king.

The letter also asks the Pontiff to persuade
King Edward II of England to end
hostilities against the Scots, so that their
energy may be better used to secure the
frontiers of Christendom. The Declaration
was probably drafted at a meeting of the
King and his council at Newbattle, then
written up in the scriptorium of Arbroath
Abbey. Written in Latin, it was sealed by
eight earls and about forty barons. It was
authenticated by seals, as documents at
that time were not signed. Only 19 seals
now remain.

Alice Blackwell, Senior Curator of
Medieval Archaeology and History at
National Museums Scotland said: “We
are delighted to have the opportunity
to display the Declaration of Arbroath
here at the National Museum of
Scotland. It is a hugely significant
document and a vital piece of
Scotland’s history. We look forward to
welcoming many visitors to enjoy the
rare opportunity of seeing this iconic
document close up.”

Culture Secretary, Angus Robertson
said: “The Declaration of Arbroath is
of great historic and cultural interest
to Scots and people around the world
of Scottish descent. The display of this
iconic document will give people from
across Scotland and further afield a
wonderful opportunity to visit the
museum and see this important piece of
history for themselves.”

Laura Mitchell, Deputy Keeper, National
Records of Scotland, said: “The Declaration
of Arbroath is a key treasure in our extensive
collections and we are proud of the role we
play in conserving this significant historical
artefact for future generations. The display
will allow Scots and visitors from further
afield to see this famous document for the
first time in 18 years.”

The Declaration was written during
the long Wars of Independence with
England when, despite the Scots’ success
at the Battle of Bannockburn, Robert I
had not been recognised as king by either
Edward II or by the Pope, and had been
excommunicated by the latter. At this time,
the Pope desired peace between England
and Scotland, so both could help in a
crusade to the Holy Land. The Declaration
sought to influence him by offering the
possibility of support from the Scots for his
long-desired crusade if they no longer had
to fear English invasion. After receiving the
Declaration, the Pope urged reconciliation
between the warring sides and a truce
was agreed in 1323. A peace treaty was
signed between England and Scotland
in March 1328 and the following year the
Pope issued a papal bull permitting the
anointing and crowning of a King of Scots.
The peace was short-lived, however, as the
Second War of Independence broke out in
1332 and went on for twenty-five years.

The Declaration of Arbroath will be
on display at the National Museum of
Scotland in Edinburgh Saturday June 3
to Sunday 2 July 2023. Admission Free.
For details see:www.nms.ac.uk/declaration

From The Scottish Banner, Volume 46 Number 10
www.ScottishBanner.com

The Scottish Banner is the international Scottish community’s newspaper for global Scots.

03/29/2023

The Centre for Scottish Studies at the University of Guelph invites you to attend the launch of Truth or Treason? Sources for the Study of the Jacobites, an exhibit of some of the University's outstanding array of Jacobite-related materials that speak to the complexity of the Jacobite movement, the deep divisions it generated, and broad alliances in which it was implicated. The entire programme for the Launch will be livestreamed and that the event will be recorded. As a result, the Eventbrite invitation has been updated with the livestream option. See registration details below.


— AGENDA —

14:45 - 15:00
Arrival & Registration

15:10
Welcoming Remarks and Introduction to the Exhibit
Dr. Kevin James, Scottish Studies Foundation Chair & Professor of History, University of Guelph

15:20
Student Perspective on Curating the Exhibit
Dylan Parry-Lai, MA History student, University of Guelph

15:25
Student Perspective on Designing and Promoting the Exhibit
Amy Moffat, 3rd year History student, University of Guelph

15:35
'Female Rebels': Gender in the 1745-46 Jacobite Rising
Dr. Leith Davis, Professor of English & Director of the Centre for Scottish Studies, Simon Fraser University

16:05
Ribbon Cutting
Russel Muncaster, 4th year History student, University of Guelph

16:10
Reception & Exhibit Viewing
(Light refreshments will be provided.)


— REGISTRATION —

The event is free and early registration is encouraged, as tickets are limited. To register and for more information please visit the Eventbrite site at:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/truth-or-treason-sources-for-the-study-of-the-jacobites-tickets-585975477427

Contact: Melissa Turner at [email protected]

Best wishes and thank you for your support. I'll be sending a link to the recording of the event once it's available.

David Hunter
President
Scottish Studies Foundation
www.scottishstudies.com

THE SCOTTISH STUDIES FOUNDATION is a registered charitable organization dedicated to advancing the study of Scottish history and culture, including its many Canadian dimensions. In 2004 we endowed the landmark Scottish Studies Foundation Chair of Scottish Studies at the University of Guelph — the ...

03/08/2023

335 Likes, 8 Comments - Andy The Highlander () on Instagram: "Meet Private Wojtek. The solider bear. After he moved to Edinburgh Zoo in the aftermath of the w..."

03/01/2023

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