What is Robert Burns night and how to celebrate it.
How do I celebrate Robert Burns Day when I'm five generations away from Scotland?
I am Canadian, which often means some kind of mutt. Both my maternal sides are Irish but up the paternal side, all Scottish. Like many Canadians my descent has some ( ok more than some) Scottish. This is hardly surprising....Scots are the third-largest ethnic group in the country, which is saying something for a country that welcomes and embraces immigration from far and wide.
But I'm Canadian darn it, what is this desire to relate to a time long past?
It's not just me, Chief Worker Bee says he's Irish. He's from Scarbrough, and not the one in England!
Is this uniquely Canadian? Who knows, doesn't matter, move on.
When is Robbie Burns Night? January 25th.
Robert Burns Day AKA robbieburns is a major event in Scotland
, and pretty much everywhere the Scottish diaspora collects. It's coming up soon so how do you celebrate this major Scottish holiday when you're generations from Scotland? Decor.... tartan, pewter and thistles!Growing up in a time when film was expensive there aren't a lot of photos, but there I am.... Trying to do a little Scottish dancing, arms a-waving this definitely didn't come from the Irish end of the family. My uncle's names, Donald, Douglas, Robert.... also reveal quite a bit of ancestry. Check out the photo of my grandfather - Hamlet Alanson Waugh.
I can't remember any time in my youth when there wasn't a kilt in the closet and indeed, for my 18th Christmas, I was given a custom made kilt, which I have and wear to this day ( to be fair I did have one pleat taken out). My recollection was that robbieburns was an event .... all one word.... not really an historical person
So where is my angst coming from?
Why do I feel like a poser when I look forward to Burn's night? It's not like I don't cry at the sound of the pipes, but in a good way. I also tear up singing Auld Lang Syne. But like most angsty emotions, there's really no need, Scotland is indeed happy to tug at my heart strings so bring on Burn's night!
What is this Burns Night?
It's a celebration of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns. Who? Auld Lang Syne who! Of course there's a tendency to cook very traditional Scottish food but that's not what I'll be up to.
Here is my plan for this year's Burn's Night.
I will don the aforesaid kilt and keep it closed with the Craig kilt pin I bought my mother in Cape Breton long ago. I used to love her grouse claw with the amethyst but that seems long gone.
I won't be cooking tatties, neeps, and Haggis, the traditional fare for Burns Night meaning mashed potatoes, turnip or rutabaga, and haggis which is a savoury pudding made with oats, sheep’s pluck, and spices. I mean, good luck finding sheep's pluck, but if you're in the GTA I can get some at The Healthy Butcher
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Curry is Scottish? Curry for Robert Burns Day!
This particular curry was supposedly invented in the 1970s by a Bangladeshi chef in Glasgow, Scotland, who, in order to please a customer, added a mild tomato-cream sauce to his chicken tikka, which are basically marinated and spiced kebabs. I learned this from Stephen on QI (series 2, episode 8 if you feel like watching in) Anyway, this curry is yummy and easier to get a hold of. I may add some neeps and that's good enough for me.
If you need a good recipe.... Here's the one I use, it's Jamie Oliver's: Old Fashioned Tikka Masala
And for dessert? There's this deliciousness called cranachan - I made it from this blog site Caroline Cooking but instead I'm just going to opt for oatcakes, cheese and whisky.
Basically my mum's recipe is unorthodox but the oatcakes are better than any other's I've tasted. I'm going to put the recipe in my newsletter.... Which means if you want it, that's right, you'll have to sign up. Put your name in the form... if you're on a desktop it's on the right and if you're mobile, scroll down.
The cheese. I'm thinking Lanark Blue and some Dunlop but I'm going to call around to try and source this. Really good cheese shops seem to distance themselves at the same rate of Scottish castles and I don't want to drive aimlessly. I'll try the Farmhouse Artisan Cheese in Oakville, The Cheese Boutique in Toronto, and Mickey McGuire's in Dundas.
Then, there's the wee dram - Whisky, not Whiskey (that's for St. Patrick's). I haven't yet decided on the glasses... whether to be a purist or posh.
Finally the setting.... In front of the fire, snuggling under the plaid blanket with my favourite Irishman and chief worker bee of course. I'll break out the silver and pewter, give a nod to my Scots-Irish grandmothers with the linen. And for ambiance... my thistle lantern of course!
Enjoy your Robert Burns Day
Photo credit for the cover photo goes to:Andrew Ridley on Unsplash Photo by Brad Starkey on Unsplash