Robbie Burns Dinner

[PJ Hardtack]

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I'm looking forward to my annual Haggis pig out at the local Robbie Burns Dinner. I'll be decked out in my Highland gear - kilt, Argyle tweed jacket with military cuffs, belt, sporran, sgian dubh, hose, brogues - the whole 8 yards. That's the amount of material in the kilt.
This year I won't be delivering the 'Ode To The Bard', but I'm brushing up on "Scots wha' ha'e wi' Wallace bled ...' in case I get challenged to recite it.

Who's going to their local Burns Supper? Am I the only oatmeal savage on the board .....? You can't all be bloody Sassenachs!

[GunClick Rick]

Aye my cousin does a wee bit o' kiltin,our GGGGGGG-Grandfathe was a scott i believe,Robert Dinwiddie Lt Governor of Virginia,he made Goerge Washington a colonel at the time.

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/robert_dinwiddie.htm

[PJ Hardtack]

That's two of us. One more and we constitute a Clan and we can take on the Sassenachs!

Only Scots ancestry I can lay claim to didn't survive the Highland Clearances; he was hanged as a sheep stealer. We've hated mutton ever since ..... ;>)

[Camille Eonich]

I'm looking forward to my annual Haggis pig out at the local Robbie Burns Dinner. I'll be decked out in my Highland gear - kilt, Argyle tweed jacket with military cuffs, belt, sporran, sgian dubh, hose, brogues - the whole 8 yards. That's the amount of material in the kilt.

We really need pictures of this. Really.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

How the Scots Invented Canada, Ken McGoogan.  Canucks all owe a lot to the Scots in defining our country.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/article1758926.ece

I have all the other UK roots except Scottish, but my Son-in-Law is a pure Scot.  The closest I am is a bit of Norman Irish.  But we might venture out and get a haggis, just in case.  My son's Father in Law is 100% Greek Cypriot but loves haggis from his days living on the border in Northrn England.

[Camille Eonich]

Y'all can have the haggis, I'll stick to shortbread and smoked salmon.  Scotch is good too...

[Hedley Lamarr]

I'm with Camille on the haggis part.

Back in the mists of time we came from Wales so the only tradition we have is unpronounceable words...

[Camille Eonich]

Back in the mists of time we came from Wales so the only tradition we have is unpronounceable words...

 

[PJ Hardtack]

Ah, Haggis - 'King o' th' Puddin' Race'; that steamin' concoction of tripe, liver, kidney, onions and oatmeal, stuffed into a sheep's stomach and boiled to perfection ..... It's no longer just for breakfast. Puts hair on your chest (and other places).

At one of the Burns Dinners I used to attend, a dour Scot (a MacLeod with a full, bushy beard) was carving the roast beast. If there was no Haggis on your plate from the self-serve buffet, he'd say "Nae Haggis, nae beef, laddie ..." and you'd have to go back and put some Haggis on your plate.

Given enough gravy, it can be eaten even by a Sassenach, if not actually enjoyed.

[Camille Eonich]

LOL  You're avoiding the picture thing aren't you?

[GunClick Rick]

Now dat reminds me of a story,the one about the scott that went fishin,he sat down by the lake and after having a good snort or two of the drink decided he would take his self a wee bit of a nap.About 30 minutes or so here come two lovely tourist ladies and spies this fine specimen of a scotsman nappin away in full regalia. One looks at the other and says,"you think it's really true they wear nothing under thier kilts"???The other says,"well let's have a look",so very gently they lifted his kilt and thier eyes grew big in amazement!! So pleased were they to know the truth one takes a bit of blue ribbon from her bonnet and ties it ever so gently around the scotts winky.Some time later the scottsman awakeins and must relieve him self,so off to the tree he goes lifted his kilt and to his amazement sees the shiney blue ribbon tied around his manlyhood!! He puases for a moment then says,"i dunno wherrrre ya been laddy but i'm glad to see ya won first place~~~~~~

  Baaaa haaa haa haa

[wildman1]

LOL  You're avoiding the picture thing aren't you?

Pics PJ, pics.  WM

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

A bunch of us are going to the Robbie Burns dinner at the Legion.  Both my wife and I are both Scots, she was a Mackay (Mac....kay the last three letters rhyme with sky).

[PJ Hardtack]

I'm not avoiding the pic request, I simply do not know how to do it!

Following my first CO's Parade when I was a Seaforth Highlander, I was introduced to one of the Regimental traditions in the Mess.
All new comers were ordered up against the wall, facing the crowd. Most of the lassies had cameras in hand. On command from the Mess President, you were told to raise the hem of your kilt to waist height.

If you were wearing skivvies, the harpies raced across the room to tear them from your body! Woe betide the poor offenders! Fortunately, I was not among them .....

I never did get a copy of the pic (it was the pre-digital era) and I didn't get a blue ribbon either ..... ;>)

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Curious

http://www.angelfire.com/on/lummus/Scotland.html

[PJ Hardtack]

And there we have the bare fact of the matter ..... it all came out in the end .... ;>)

For a Norman Sassenach, yer not a bad sort, Sir Chuck! I accord you honourary status as a Scot; for the day, that is.

Any idea as to the regimental affiliation of the soldiers? I don't recognize the tartan nor the red cockade.

BTW - earlier I referred to the Haggis as the "King o' the Puddin' Race". That should properly be "Chieftain o' The Puddin' race".

Friday is the day I volunteer at the Sally Anne soup kitchen. I told the clients that in honour of Burns, we were serving Haggis soup. The reactions were mixed, to say the least! Some rubbed their hands and others looked ill.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

PJ;  Of course you will be "regimental" at the Sally Ann!

[GunClick Rick]

He must be related to the new Princess

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

PJ;  I think it might be The Black Watch.  And the red feathery thingy is a "hackle"

[PJ Hardtack]

'Tis right ye are, laddie. It is indeed the tartan of the Black Watch, according to my copy of "The Complete Book of Tartan" by Zaczek and Phillips. And the red hackle has long been part of their regimental adornment.

Since ye are so adept at navigatin' the innards of the cyber world, would ye be so kind as to research the 'Birch" family tartan and post it for the benefit of the lads and lassies?  The registered number with the Scottish Tartans Society is: 2157

My sett is the muted 'ancient' weave.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Just google "Scottish Tartan Society pattern 2157"  ( I suspect googling "tartan pattern" would do it.)

here is a good one.  Anyone can look up a family or clan tartan;

http://tartans.byair.net/index.php?type=family

Here is another good one; Navigate to the Scottish Register of Tartans

http://www.scottish-tartans-society.co.uk/

[PJ Hardtack]

Well the Burns Dinner as a great success - 'cept I seem to have lost my kilt pin twixt attending that and wearing my kilt to church today. Whatever would the Queen think .... ? We have Scottish Country Dancing Sunday afternoons at the rec centre, so it seemed the right thing to do by Burns.

Legend has it that the origin of the kilt pin stems from Queen Victoria removing a hair pin to save the modesty of one of her Highland soldier escorts whose kilt was flapping in the breeze as she reviewed the guard. Thereafter, it became all the rage and everyone had to have one.

The menu at the Burns supper was standard fare consisting of: prime Hielan' Stirk, Great Chieftain o' the Puddin' Race, Champit tatties, bashed neeps, etc. Oh, and some of tha' green stuff food eats; salad, I think it's called.

I came back with my ears buzzed from all the piping and drumming, and my eyes glazed from all the beautiful Hielan' lassies dancing ..... ;>)

[Camille Eonich]

Sounds like a fine time!

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

Well the Burns Dinner as a great success - 'cept I seem to have lost my kilt pin twixt attending that and wearing my kilt to church today. Whatever would the Queen think .... ? We have Scottish Country Dancing Sunday afternoons at the rec centre, so it seemed the right thing to do by Burns.

Legend has it that the origin of the kilt pin stems from Queen Victoria removing a hair pin to save the modesty of one of her Highland soldier escorts whose kilt was flapping in the breeze as she reviewed the guard. Thereafter, it became all the rage and everyone had to have one.

The menu at the Burns supper was standard fare consisting of: prime Hielan' Stirk, Great Chieftain o' the Puddin' Race, Champit tatties, bashed neeps, etc. Oh, and some of tha' green stuff food eats; salad, I think it's called.



I came back with my ears buzzed from all the piping and drumming, and my eyes glazed from all the beautiful Hielan' lassies dancing ..... ;>)

Our Robbie Burns night is not until Feb 3rd.  Probably the only night they could book the Legion.  This past week and including the weekend it was booked for the Farmer's Bonspiel and this coming weekend it is booked for the Ladies Bonspiel.  Looking forward to it though.

[Ol Gabe]

Dear C.E., Kind Lass,
Now that the picture has been posted and an explanation of the Kilt Pin been seen, to answer the question oft asked about "...what is 'worn' under the Kilt?" we have to take a collective and colloquial look at where it is asked. Throughout the former Empire the standard answer was "Nothing is 'worn', everything is in fine working order!", or somesuch localised response of the same ilk. Here in the Upper Midwest of the Colonies at a Scottish doo-dah or Officer's Mess of the Territorial Border Guards/TBG's, a historical reenactment group, the reply may go something like this, "Why, brogues and stocks of course! What else would a Scot wear to keep his knobbly knees warm?"
Either way, the answer is correct and will no doubt bring a smile and wink of understanding to those who enjoy the wearin' of same, nudge, nudge, wink, wink!
Best regards and please pass the Scotch!
'Ol Gabe