In this, the year of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, a remarkable 3,653 Burns Suppers were registered as being hosted worldwide. As you would imagine Scotland had the most with 1,376 but England, not that well known for their Burns or love of the Scots were a very close second with 1,295.

 The Burns influence appears to be alive and well with Suppers being held in Russia, Australia, Japan and Argentina to name but a few. It confirms that old Scottish saying that no matter where you travel in the world you will always find a Scotsman. It appears that more than one of these far flung Scots has a liking for Burns. I had the pleasure of attending a local school supper this year where the whole event was being screened via an internet link to a school in America. Alford to Alaska…can you believe it?

The traditional Burns Supper is a very formal affair and to be invited to one of the “old school” suppers is an honour indeed. You have to arrive early to get a good seat and your behaviour must be beyond reproach, not too much of the Famous Grouse, if an invite to the following years event is to be extended. This would certainly have been the case for those attending the Homecoming Burns Supper held in the Brig O’Doon Hotel in Alloway which was attended by First Minister Alex Salmond. Visit the Homecoming site to see some video clips of the event.

The home hosted Burns Supper is where the real fun is and the ones I like best. No formality here. Granda has been too long in the kitchen wi’ the Macallan and pipes the haggis roon the house then halfway doon the street. Uncle Jack loses the plot in his toast to the haggis and cuts himself whilst dichtin’ his knife. Wee Johnny steals the piper’s dram. Auld Mac gets fou on the sherry trifle and Auntie Elsie hits all the wrong notes in her operatic rendition of Ae Fond Kiss and heads for the toilet in a flood of tears. As the malt goes round the night drives on wi’ sangs an’ clatter.

The highlight for me, without doubt, is a well worked Tam O’ Shanter. This epic poem properly performed can turn a noisy rabble into a church congregation where all are caught in the spell of the tale. It unfortunately can also end in disaster when the “chosen one” has had too much ale to calm his nerves and falls over his chair just as he reaches Auld Alloway Kirk.

All good things must come to an end and after much singing and dancing the strains of Auld Lang Syne bring another year’s event to a close. It’s a pity that it is a year before we can have another Supper.

Follow my blog as I give you more insight into the home hosted Burns Supper.

Yours aye

Tam O’ Shanter