Burns night

It’s almost too late to wish everyone a happy Burns Night. Burns Night/Day is a Scottish feast day more important than Christmas (Christmas Day was not even a public holiday there till a few decades ago).

The official Robert Burns site gives information on holding a Burns supper.

Armin Grewe has a picture of a haggis on his site – actually a plate with haggis, bashed neeps (mashed turnips/swedes) and potatoes. (Armin’s list of bloggers abroad here). And some more information (source):

bq. Among Burn’s many poems is one called “To a Haggis,” in which he describes the dish as that “Great chieftain O’ the puddin’-race.” Naturally, haggis must be served at the party. Haggis tastes slightly like hash. It is made from the heart, liver and lungs of a sheep. These organs are finely chopped and mixed with toasted oatmeal, onions, and seasonings. Then everything is boiled in a bag made from the sheep’s stomach.

6 thoughts on “Burns night

  1. Partook of one last night, despite living in deepest Baden-Württemberg. I would recommend Orkney Clapshot (nice name) as an accompaniment – neeps and tatties mashed together and toasted with a sprinkling of cheese on top. Almost better than the haggis.
    Ann SB

  2. Thanks – I will take that recommendation very seriously. (What do they call swedes where you are, btw? They seem to have many names). See also end of next entry.

  3. Definitely turnips in my neck of the woods – central Scotland. Swedes are further south in parts of England (and further north in Scandinavia).
    Clapshot is apparently from an old word meaning a mixture.

  4. To be honest it was Baden-Württemberg I meant. I hadn’t realized you’d call them turnips. But they are even harder to pin down in German. Kohlrübe, Steckrübe, Dickwurz, Wruke, Dorsche…

  5. “Steckrüben” as far as I am aware, although I frequently confuse them with “gelbe Rüben” which to me would make sense, but they are “carrots”.

  6. Yes, I think carrots are gelbe Rüben in Munich. I have encountered swedes here as Dorsche, but not universally. Also Steckrübe, which I think ought to be turnips, but turnips are rare.

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