Burns Night

Burns Night celebrates the national poet of Scotland, Robert Burns, as well as Scottish traditions that are usually best left in Scotland.

Don't believe me?  Check out the BBC's guide to Burns Night, which includes this menu:

• Starter: Traditional cock-a-leekie soup

  Main course: Haggis, neeps & tatties

  Sweet: Clootie Dumpling or Typsy Laird

It sounds like a meal out of Lewis Carroll or The Lord of the Rings, doesn't it?  I'm going to let you Google these foods on your own; I don't want to know more than I already do.

But really, Burns Night is supposed to be a lot of fun.  I don't know how seriously it's taken in Scotland, but here in England everyone - of Scottish heritage of not - joins in for a laugh.  At a traditional  Burns Night gathering, you'll find piping, singing, dancing, and reciting, as well as eating the above delicacies.  (Jon's parents have been participating in weekly dancing classes with their friends since late autumn to prepare for their annual Burns Night ball.)  Of course, there's also a lot of whiskey-drinking!

I'll be meeting some friends at the pub tonight for a wee dram, as they say, and will be wearing my supercute tartan dress from Anthro (circa winter 2009, I think):

Aren't I in the spirit of things?  If you're looking for some ideas for your Burns Night, have a peek at TimeOut, which lists some good options.  Let me know if you get caught up in the swing of the evening!