25th
January is marked as a major cause for celebration, even on distant
shores, as the anniversary of the birth of Robert
Burns. Scots and those of Scottish extraction, as well
as Burns afficionados, hold Burns Suppers, which have certain
traditions adhered to and a generally accepted order of
events.
First,
the party is formally opened, usually with the 'Selkirk Grace' and
a light starter course such as soup. Then, perhaps the
most famous and recognisable element of the meal occurs -
the Address to the Haggis, which is brought into the
room accompanied by bagpipes. A combination of various
toasts and proclamations ensues, with recitals of Burns' poems, and
the rest of the food. This is normally traditional fare
such as neeps and tatties (turnip and mashed potatoes), cheese,
oatcakes and maybe a dessert such as cranachan (made with oatmeal,
cream, raspberries, and so on) and, of course, whisky. The
evening is brought to an end with a rendition of Auld Lang
Syne.
The
Burns Supper began when friends of the poet remembered him on the
anniversary of his death.
Contemporary
celebrations of the bard include 'Burns An' A' That', which
commenced six years ago and is growing in popularity, with many
acclaimed performers on the bill every year at various venues
throughout Ayrshire.
The Holy
Fair, another festival with its roots in earlier times, has also
recently been revived in the village of Mauchline,
East Ayrshire, with a range of performers, crafts and activities
for families.
Other local festivals include the
Saltcoats Queen of the Sea; this too has recently restarted, having
first been held in the early
20th century. A local girl is crowned
Queen, with a couple of ladies-in-waiting and partakes in a parade
through the town.
Staying
in North Ayrshire, the Marymass festival based
in Irvine is a highlight of the holiday week in August
each year. It was supposedly started when Queen Mary
visited the town, and surprisingly made it through the
Reformation. A horse race was added in the
18th century, and the climbing of a greased
pole. In earlier times, the purpose was to reach a meat
joint at the top, a highly prized commodity.
Sometimes, there
were days marked that were not big enough to be classed as a
festival, like Glen Saturday when the Kilmarnock children went
to Craufurdland Castle to pick daffodils.
The Guid
Nychburris event in Dumfries celebrates the town's status
as a royal burgh and 2007 saw its 75th anniversary,
although it was suspended during the war, as were many of these
occasions. One of the main events was the Riding of
the Marches.
