How to Host your Own Burns Night Celebrations - Haggis, Address & Poem

Here’s everything you need to host your own Burns Night celebrations. Whether you’re planning to hire professionals or take charge of the evening yourself, this guide has all the tools and resources to make it unforgettable.

The 25th of January each year is a cherished occasion to honour the life and legacy of Robert Burns, Scotland’s beloved National Bard. We celebrate on the anniversary of his birth, not his passing, as his works celebrate the vibrancy, joy, and passion of life.

Robert Burns (1759–1796), Scotland’s National Bard, was a farmer’s son from Ayrshire whose talent for poetry and song captured the spirit of the Scottish people. His works celebrated themes of love, nature, and social justice, often written in Scots dialect. Despite financial struggles and a short life, Burns produced a prolific body of work, including classics like Auld Lang Syne and Tam o’ Shanter. His poetry reflected a deep humanity and egalitarian ideals, making him a cultural icon whose influence extends far beyond Scotland.

A Burns Celebration, Burns Supper, or Burns Night, is a heartfelt reflection on the poet’s life, his timeless works, and Scotland’s rich cultural heritage—shared with those gathered to celebrate.

While Burns Nights are a treasured tradition in Scotland, they extend far beyond its borders. From the United States to India, Spain to the Philippines, the enduring influence of a humble poet from Ayrshire speaks to the universal power of his words and spirit.

These gatherings take many forms, from intimate family meals to grand affairs with professional performers and elaborate catering.

No matter the scale of your Burns Night, certain timeless traditions lie at its heart. To help you create a memorable evening, we’ve assembled a comprehensive toolkit, packed with all the guidance and resources you need—whether you’re hosting a cozy supper for five or a grand celebration for five hundred. All that’s left to provide is the whisky and the haggis!

Burns Night Traditions

A traditional Burns Night evening often follows a set order of events, including:

The Parade of the Haggis
The Address to the Haggis
The Selkirk Grace
Dinner (traditionally haggis, neeps, and tatties)
The Immortal Memory
The Toast to the Lassies
The Reply to the Laddies
Ceilidh Dancing
Auld Lang Syne

Some of these traditions require more preparation than others. Depending on the size of your gathering or personal preferences, you might choose to include all of these elements or just a few.

For a simpler celebration, you could focus on key moments such as:

The Selkirk Grace
Dinner
A poem or reading
Auld Lang Syne

A more elaborate evening might expand to include additional highlights, such as:

A dramatic recitation of Burns’ epic poem Tam O’Shanter
Readings of other Burns works
Original poems written by your guests in the style of Robert Burns

Ultimately, there are no strict rules for a Burns Night. Burns himself, with his irreverent wit, would likely have scoffed at the idea of rigid guidelines! The evening is meant to be a joyous celebration, guided by tradition but open to personal touches.

To complete the experience, consider including classic Scottish food and drink. Shortbread is a must-have treat, Scotch whisky is the toast of choice for adults, and Irn Bru is a favourite for younger guests.

The Parade of the Haggis

When everyone is seated and ready for the main course, the Haggis enters. Traditionally, a Bagpiper plays and marches as the Chef follows, carrying the Haggis in on a platter. The Haggis is then ready to be addressed.

If you’re doing this at home, and you don’t know a Piper who can perform this service live, it’s easy enough to find some music to play over a speaker as the Haggis is carried in. See the first 50 seconds of this clip below:

Selkirk Grace

The Haggis is served. But before you can eat, someone must perform aloud the Selkirk Grace, by Robert Burns:

Some hae meat and canna eat,
and some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And say the lord be thankit.

Extra verses were written long after Burns for Vegetarians by Richard Medrington

The Alternative Grace:

But some hate meat and girn and weep,
Resisting all coercion,
So bless the tatties, bless the neeps
And the vegetarian version.

Then filled wi’ fruits o’ field and vine
And feelin fairlie frisky,
The One who water turned to wine,
We’d ask to bless the whisky.

Address to the Haggis

The Address to the Haggis is one of the most iconic traditions of Burns Night, tracing its origins to Robert Burns’ 1786 poem To a Haggis. In the poem, Burns elevates the humble dish to near-mythical status, praising it as the “Great chieftain o’ the puddin’-race.” The address is a theatrical centerpiece of the evening, performed as the haggis is ceremonially brought to the table, accompanied by bagpipes.

The recitation, filled with dramatic flair, humour, and vivid imagery, celebrates the haggis as a symbol of Scottish culture and heritage. It reflects Burns’ gift for honouring everyday subjects with poetic grandeur and serves as a rousing reminder of his enduring connection to Scotland’s culinary and cultural identity.

After the Haggis has been addressed, the Speaker calls for a Toast to the Haggis, and guests all raise a glass of whisky “To the Haggis!”

The poem is best performed with vigour and drama. Most Bagpipers will be able to perform the Haggis Address. Here is Reel Time founder and Bagpiper Roddy performing the Haggis Address at the National Museum of Scotland:

Please feel free to play this video at your own Burns Night. Or, if you’re brave enough, we’ve provided the full text of the Address to a Haggis below, along with an English translation.

Original:

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 worthy o’ a grace
As lang’s my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
‘Bethankit’ hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect scunner,
Looks down wi sneering, scornfu view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither’d rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He’ll make it whissle;
An legs an arms, an heads will sned,
Like taps o thrissle.

Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies:
But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

Translation:

Good luck to you and your honest, plump face,
Great chieftain of the sausage race!
Above them all you take your place,
Stomach, tripe, or intestines:
Well are you worthy of a grace
As long as my arm.

The groaning trencher there you fill,
Your buttocks like a distant hill,
Your pin would help to mend a mill
In time of need,
While through your pores the dews distill
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour wipe,
And cut you up with ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like any ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm steaming, rich!

Then spoon for spoon, the stretch and strive:
Devil take the hindmost, on they drive,
Till all their well swollen bellies by-and-by
Are bent like drums;
Then old head of the table, most like to burst,
‘The grace!’ hums.

Is there that over his French ragout,
Or olio that would sicken a sow,
Or fricassee would make her vomit
With perfect disgust,
Looks down with sneering, scornful view
On such a dinner?

Poor devil! see him over his trash,
As feeble as a withered rush,
His thin legs a good whip-lash,
His fist a nut;
Through bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit.

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his ample fist a blade,
He’ll make it whistle;
And legs, and arms, and heads will cut off
Like the heads of thistles.

You powers, who make mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill of fare,
Old Scotland wants no watery stuff,
That splashes in small wooden dishes;
But if you wish her grateful prayer,
Give her [Scotland] a Haggis!

Burns Night Menu

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Now you can eat!

The traditional main course, of course, is Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties. For those who don’t know, Haggis is a large sausage made of sheep meat (mutton), oatmeal, and spices. Neeps are mashed turnips. And tatties are mashed potatoes.

While Haggis is the traditional main course, some more classic dishes could be included on the menu

Cock A Leekie: a classic starter soup made of chicken, leeks, and rice
Cullen Skink: a thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions. A great starter for a Burns Night menu
Raspberry Cranachan: a Scottish trifle that combines raspberries, oatmeal, and whisky for a refreshing dessert

Be sure to have these to hand:

Scotch Whisky
Shortbread
Irn Bru

The Immortal Memory

The Immortal Memory is a cornerstone of Burns Night, serving as a heartfelt tribute to Robert Burns and his enduring legacy. Traditionally delivered as a speech, it reflects on Burns’ life, works, and the cultural significance he continues to hold. The tradition dates back to the very first Burns Supper in 1801, held by a group of his close friends in Alloway, marking the fifth anniversary of his death.

Over the years, the Immortal Memory has evolved from a personal remembrance into a broader reflection on the themes that defined Burns’ work, such as love, equality, and the beauty of Scotland’s landscape. Often laced with humour and personal anecdotes, the speech connects Burns’ ideals to modern life, ensuring his relevance to each new generation. Whether delivered by a seasoned orator or a passionate admirer of Burns, the Immortal Memory is a powerful reminder of the bard’s lasting influence on literature, culture, and the human spirit.

If you’re going to perform the Immortal Memory, it’s worth doing your research, because the standard is very high! For many, the Immortal Memory is the staple and highlight of the night.

Here’s a great one:

Toast to the Lassies and Reply from the Lassies

The Toast to the Lassies is a lively and humorous tradition at Burns Night suppers, originating in the mid-19th century as a nod to the women in attendance. Its roots are tied to Robert Burns’ own deep appreciation for women, evident in his poetry, songs, and personal life. Burns was a romantic at heart, celebrating love and the strength of women in works such as A Red, Red Rose and Ae Fond Kiss.

Originally, the toast was a lighthearted acknowledgement of the ladies, reflecting the convivial spirit of the evening. Over time, it evolved into a more formal, often witty speech that highlights the contributions of women to society, relationships, and the Burns Supper itself.

Following the Toast to the Lassies, a Reply to the Laddies is given and serves as a humorous yet gracious response to the preceding toast. While it often includes playful repartee and lighthearted teasing about the habits and quirks of men, it is also an opportunity for the lassies to have the final word. The tone can range from cheeky to heartfelt, depending on the speaker and the age group of the guests.

In its best form, the Reply to the Laddies mirrors the balance found in the Toast to the Lassies—a blend of humour, respect, and warmth. Together, these speeches foster camaraderie among the guests, showcasing the lighthearted yet meaningful connections that are at the heart of a Burns Night celebration.

This is another tradition where the standard is very high. Here’s a great example by ‘Taggart’ star Colin McCredie with former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon present:

Ceilidh Dancing

A Scottish Ceilidh is a great way to turn your Burns Night Celebrations from dinner into a party. As long as you’ve got enough guests, get hold of a ceilidh band and have a great time, whether you’ve done it before or not.

Auld Lang Syne

People all over the world know Auld Lang Syne, and sing it as the old year changes to the new. They may not know in places far away from Scotland that Auld Lang Syne is a song by Robert Burns. So as well as singing it on New Years Eve, we sing it as our Burns Night Celebrations come to an end.

The lyrics, if they’re not already in your bones:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?