Organising a Burns Supper

5. The meal can be finished off with some Scottish cheeses such as Crowdie (low-fat soft cheese), Caboc (rennet-free soft cheese, rolled in oatmeal), Pentland Brie (yes, the Scots can make brie!) or the delicious Orkney Cheddar. These could be served with oatcakes or simply with some marmalade.

6. After the meal, the guest or an invited speaker makes the ‘Immortal Memory’ speech. This can be on any subject, but there should be some reference to Burns’ life or work. If you’re making the speech, it might help to refer to a collection of Burns’ works. At the end of the speech, everyone stands and drinks a toast to ‘the immortal memory of Robert Burns’.

7. After some music from the piper or fiddle (or CD player!), there’s usually the ‘Toast to the Lassies’, in which a male guest thanks the women of the house for preparing such a great feast. This speech assumes, of course, that a woman cooked the food, so these days the speaker can take whatever liberties they feel fit. Whoever is thanked then offers ‘The Reply’ - in thanks or defence - and the night ends with some singing, dancing and poetry recitals.

8. Finally, after a speech of thanks (they like their speeches, the Scottish), the group stands for ‘Auld Lang Syne’. The title translates as ‘Old Long Since’ meaning ‘for times gone by’ or ‘for days of long ago, and it’s famous throughout the world (including Scotland) as the song that everyone sings but nobody knows. So, to save you singing ‘la la la’ in the quiet bits, here are the full lyrics:

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld [old] acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne [for times gone by]

Chorus -
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint stowp [tankard]!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

Chorus -

We twa hae [two have] run about the braes [hills],
And pou’d the gowans [pulled the yellow flowers] fine:But we’ve wander’d mony [many] a weary fitt [foot],Sin’ [Since] auld lang syne.

Chorus -

We twa hae paidl’d [paddled] in the burn
Frae [From] morning sun till dine [dinnertime]:
But seas between us braid [broad] hae roar’d
Sin’ auld lang syne.

Chorus -

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere [friend]!
And gie’s [give me] a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gude willie-waught [draught]
For auld lang syne.

Chorus -

Are you organising a Burns Supper? Need any help or advice? If so, try the Cooking Coach or post your query on the All About Food & Drink message board.