The History of Burns Night

Difficulty:Level 7

Robert or Robbie Burns was a revered Scottish poet who life and works is celebrated by Scots around the world every year. Perhaps the oddest part of this tradition is the "piping in of the Haggis". A piper playing traditional Scottish bagpipes, accompanies the haggis into the room as it is carried to the table.

Not sure what a haggis is? Here's the definition.

haggis

ˈhaɡɪs

Meanings

noun

• a Scottish dish consisting of a sheep's or calf's offal mixed with suet, oatmeal, and seasoning and boiled in a bag, traditionally one made from the animal's stomach.
  E.g. an enormous haggis was paraded through the hall

Now that doesn't sound very appetizing, however you may be surprised at just how good haggis is. If you do get the chance to try it, don't miss out.

As an aside, when I was young, a TV program broadcast a piece that claimed that a haggis was a type of rodent. This was an April Fools joke, but it took me years to realize that.

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