What are we supposed to do for Burn's Night, folks?

[JonnyBoy12]

Sorry if this has been posted before but have just learned that tonight is Burn's Night. Is this just for the benefit of Scotland or do we do it in England as well?

What are we supposed to do for this special night and have we all got to get poetic for tonight?

Thanks in advance for you kind replies.

[boxtops]

OH didn't wear his tonight, it wasn't a formal affair - we did pipe in the haggis, though.

[maggiebee]

This explains it all in plain Scots.

Eence mair comes roon the 25th, the birthday o the baird
Fir Rabbie’s supper eence agin, the tartan clamored laird
A ower the warld, folk gaither wi freens, an beat thon Selkirk grace
Tae celebrate a man o words, a poet fu o grace

We start wi soup, an hud oor weesht, afor mair grub is seen
The chunter soonds the warning, thit the haggis is oan its wye
An oan a platter, fit fir a king, the beast is piped oan in
Tae an address, an pomp worthwhile, is slit frae end tae end

Wi neeps n tatties, the dish doled oot, an a dram o whisky rare
We’ll hae a toast, tae the Queen, an then’s oor Rabbies turn
Mair thanks tae a, fa did the wirk, tae mak a crackin nicht
An then them lads and lasses joke, wi jibes tae ane an a

An efter a them tales are ower, the dancin micht begin
Or mebbe jist a tale or twa, lik Tam o Shanter playin
An fan its ower we’ll a gie thanks, and link oor airms a hither
Tae pay respects an sing a roon o Auld Lang Syne thigither

[micmak]

When I first came to Yorkshire, I worked just outside Barnsley and couldn't understand a word, fortunately a fellow Londoner came to my rescue.

[Barmaid]

Peashaq - I understood you. Why is it I can't understand the man I have lived with for 2 1/2 years when he slips into "native tongue"

Anyway, I did my bit for Burns night yesterday. I gave him haggis on toast topped with a poached egg and brown sauce. I called it "Bugger Burns Night". (said in clipped english tones!)

[boxtops]

Must be easier to read the written word, barmaid - though I could only understand about 10% of the reading of To A Haggis tonight (and what I could understand seemed to be about blood and guts and throwing up...)

[islasmum]

Well, we had haggis, neeps and tatties tonight - forgot the whisky, but remembered to adress the haggis - it didn't get piped in though! - anyone know if haggis freezes - we had to get a big one just for the 2 of us and the shop had run out of small haggi (?) by the time we got there, so it may easily be the same supper again tomorrow night - I don't mind, because I love the stuff - but it doesn't do my diet much good!

[Barmaid]

(and what I could understand seemed to be about blood and guts and throwing up...)

Funny that, Boxy, that seems to be the end result of the conversations my OH has in Scotland.......................

[boxtops]

Yes, it does freeze, but it's not often done, it can come out a bit rubbery.

[DaisyNonna]

Had a much loved cousin born in Scotland, brought up in Northumberland and lived in County Durham. My children managed to understand about one word in ten.

[sandyRoe]

Oh that God the gift would gea us, to see ourselves as others see us.

[boxtops]

My ex was very Scottish and when we first moved to the Midlands, he worked in the Black Country - they couldn't understand him, and he couldn't understand them. It made interesting conversations.

[douglas9401]

boxtops
Yes, it does freeze, but it's not often done, it can come out a bit rubbery.

Lost in translation boxtops, we pronounce it "a bit lovely"

[brenda]

Have a wee dram or three ,and support the referendum when it is printed .

[islasmum]

I like theScots accent - my father came from Aberdeen, and was easy to understand, but some friends came from round Glasgow way and I could understand them pretty well person to person, but over a phone it was virtually unintelligible - thank goodness for email now!

[boxtops]

I watched a TV programme with some trawlermen from Peterhead - now that WAS unintelligle to me - but round the corner in Inverness, the accent is beautiful.

[askyourgran]

Micmac surely you can understand Yorkshire, we don't need a phrase book like the Scots. btw you are becoming famous on the billboards and the TV adverts I think of you when I see them. lol.
Lately I'm becoming a bit hard of hearing and dialects are fazing me. I couldn't understand the Scots lassie from the Bank on the telephone, or Brian from Bangalore the other day. Most embarrassing.