A Few Dinner Guests

I love Burns Night Suppers, hosted by some Scottish friends who live near us. Nearly every January 25th (or thereabouts), they invite friends to this lively, lovely event. It's a Scottish tradition that's more than just a meal with friends –- there's a sequence to the evening that includes toasts and responses, poetry, whisky, Scottish dishes, and of course, the celebration and address to the haggis, carried steaming hot into the dining room accompanied by bagpipe music. It's all done in the wonderful fun spirit of the man himself, Robert Burns, who loved a good time, good laughs, good food and good friends--and the magic and power of language.

Guests deliver rousing whisky toasts—long and substantive and fun—starting with The Immortal Memory Toast to Robert Burns; then a male guest gives the Toast to the Lassies, and a female guest delivers the Reply to the Laddies, often very saucy toasts and retorts. This is followed by more toasts, perhaps some Burns poetry or songs, more courses of good food, more music.

The Burns Supper's centerpiece dish is haggis (a savory sausagey thing that’s quite tasty, though I skip it, being a non-meat-eater), along with neeps ‘n tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes), and perhaps salmon or lamb and veggies followed by a dessert of shortbread and fruit trifle or a creamy raspberry-and-oats cranachan. Then a sip more whisky if you like, and perhaps a finish of strong brewed tea. All that, and good friends, makes a very special evening.

Burns Night is celebrated on January 25, the poet’s birthday, or as near as one can manage the date. I’ve written a few Immortal Memory Toasts and Toasts to the Laddies, quite fun to do (I’ve blogged about that previously if you want to read the whole Immortal Memory Toast).

Not everyone in Scotland or of Scottish descent celebrates Burns Night, though it’s a widely known annual event that honors a brilliant, bold, rebellious and romantic poet, a literati and a working class educated man, and altogether a fascinating lad. His life wasn’t perfect—his behavior certainly wasn’t—but his work even today reads filled with passion for Scotland, for its history, its romantic, noble heart, for women, love, friendship, loyalty--and his lines as bawdy as they are heroic, at times.

And this year’s annual Burns Night Supper got me thinking about suppers for special historical people. If I were to host a supper to celebrate a favorite person from history, who would I choose, and what would some of the features of this supper be? And while I’m inviting people – why not invite more than one person from another century?

Joan of Arc – I’ve loved her since I was a little Catholic girl fascinated by the teenager who spoke with angels and boldly followed her destiny and convictions to lead an army to war and find the courage later to face the flames.  My great-grandmother grew up a few miles from where Joan lived, so Jehanne la Pucelle and I would have lots to talk about (I’d brush up on my French before she arrived!). I’d ask her what she thought of the English (she and other French soldiers called them the “Goddams” because they overheard the English swearing by their campfires at night). And I’d show her my bookshelves—I have dozens of books about her.

I’d invite Sir Walter Scott too – a lovely man, I imagine. We could discuss Scottish
history and his role in originating historical fiction and, yes, historical romance. I’d also hope he’d talk to me about his library of 9,000 volumes on history, legend, and British culture at Abbotsford, his beautiful home (which I’ve visited more than once, and will drool over forever).

Mary, Queen of Scots – She’s always had my sympathy—she was a beautiful young woman raised in the elite bubble of the French court and sent home to Scotland to rule over some rough, ruthless, conniving men who did their best to undermine her. She was too easily influenced and made mistakes, but she was fascinating. I’d want to ask her about her life, her relationships, what really happened between her and her cousin Elizabeth. I think Sir Walter Scott would be delighted to speak with Mary, and both of them could converse with Joan of Arc in French.

There are so many guests on my wish list -- Leonardo da Vinci. Robert Bruce. Jane Austen (Sir Walter Scott would love to sit beside her, as he much admired her work). Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun, whose portraits were so tender and full of life during a hard turn in French history. Tolkein--I'd want to know how he tapped into such magnificent creative mythic storytelling, and I'd ask him about Celtic poetry.  

For the menu, I’d go with a Scottish dinner, perhaps instead of haggis a good cock-a-leekie soup (chicken and leeks, good and very easy), then salmon with neeps ‘n tatties (Queen Mary and Joan of Arc could discover a new taste sensation—potatoes—along with that old staple, turnips), with a nice array of pastries for dessert. A few wee sippies of whisky, and tea and coffee . . . a good meal with some very interesting guests.

Have you been to a Burns Supper? If you hosted your own supper for a person from history, who would you invite and what would be the highlights of the evening? 

Here's to Burns, and suppers, and a wee sippie of a good Scottish whisky on a brisk winter's night!

Susan 

 

Comments

[Shannon]

I've never heard of Burn Night Supper. It sound wonderful.

Guests:
Da Vinci for certain
Queen Elizabeth I
Shakespeare (I've started reading his sonnets)
Katherine Wight Haskell (she ran the business so they could invent the airplane)
Thomas Jefferson

I could easily go on but this is only fun if there's persons left.

[Mary Jo Putney]

The Burns Night Dinner sounds like it would leave guests in a food, whiskey, and poetry coma! But in a GOOD Way. *G*

I've never been any good at that question of who I'd like to invited to dinner, but I -love- your guest list, though I might substitute cousin Elizabeth for Mary, Queen of Scots. Maybe I'd add roast grape tomatoes to the menu, since they'd also be new and interesting, and they taste lovely and add a nice dash of color. All yummy!

[Jo Banks]

AH Burns Night ! We are having our dinner tomorrow - the haggis is in the fridge the copy of 'the address to the Haggis' is pinned to the kitchen notice board and the husband has practiced his music - tho not on his bagpipes -he says he isn't ready for an audience so will play on his chanter which is the pipe you learn to play before progressing to the bagpipes proper.Scottish prawns and salmon for a starter and a boozy dessert consisting of cream whisky marmalade and honey .A good malt whisky - tho I like drambuie a whisky liquer and some good strong coffee should round the evening off nicely.Only drawback is we eat at our friends house further up the hill because she has a larger dining room so I cook and then transport it all up there !! Still she has the dishwasher which gives my other half an evening off !!
As to whom I would invite to a historical dinner I agree with Sir Walter Scott and maybe Wordsworth.Jane Austen and I would love to talk to Georgette Heyer .

[Nancy Miller]

I attend a Burns Night Supper almost every year hosted by our local Saint Andrew's Society. For sure I'd invite Patrick Henry, son of a Scottish immigrant. With the current Outlander craze, I'd also invite Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie Fraser on the STARZ TV series.

[Cathy Davis Hammond]

I would invite his father who, on his deathbed, expressed fears that Robert would never amount to anything. I would invite his in-laws who thought he was not good enough for their daughter. I would invite his friends for one last, great celebration, and his few critics, so they could drink to their own stupidity. I would invite his ever-loyal Jean who never got to go anywhere with him. And I would invite the Man Himself, The Scottish Bard, to bask in the wonder and warmth of it all.

[Linda S.]

I went to several Burns Night dinners at a local Presbyterian church when I was growing up. And I remember my parents going to one in Chicago, presided over by Hughston McBain of McBain. He was the Chairman of the Board of the late, great Marshall Field and Co. at that time. Undoubtedly, my parents would have considered the Chicago dinner to be too expensive and formal for the children. The local event was more family-friendly.
As for guests, I think Cathy's answer is spot on.

[Cathy Davis Hammond]

Why, thank you, Linda S. The one I attended with a friend was for adults as well, but not at all formal. It was uproarious, full of laughter, music, whiskey, haggis, and poetry, some of it not fit for children's ears. He would have loved it and the dancing. So I danced.

[Karin]

It sounds like a wonderful excuse to have a party in the dead of winter. I'd love to see if Jane Austen was as witty in person as she is on the page. I'd also invite Benjamin Franklin, the Duke of Wellington, and Madame de Stael.

[Annette MacLeod Watt]

Word Wenches ,

Tolkein : If you want to know how Tolkein " tapped into such magnificent mythology " you need to begin by reading Humphrey Carpenter's wonderful book Tolkein . And learn how at an early age Tolkein was bright enough to master Old Nordic language . And develop a life long fascination with Old Nordic poetry and mythology . Then follow up with The Inklings . And other books about Tolkein and Old Norse .
But Carpenter is your starting point ! Happy reading - and may all your questions be answered !,! Annette MacLeod Watt
# I can still remember my father on Burn's Night , resplendent in the MacLeod tartan !

[kay]

Late to this one. I've gone to a few Burn's Nights. The food was interesting, although I have put Clapshot in my recipe book...love it. The bringing out of the Haggis was fun. There was a woman there who came to the US as a war bride from Scotland and she always did the Toast to the Laddies. Her accent was amazing. She recited the Lord's Prayer in Gaelic for me - it was wonderful.