Annual Burns Dinner & Ceilidh

Let’s celebrate!

Each year NWJPB hosts a Burns Dinner (AKA Burns Supper) as a way to gather with our community of supporters, play good music, enjoy some good food and have a great time.

When: Typically the last weekend in January
Where: Shoreline Community College - Pagoda Union Building (PUB)

Burns Night is a traditional Scottish celebration and a commemoration of the Romantic era poet Robert Burns. Essentially, it is an opportunity to don your fanciest kilt, try some haggis, and dance the night away! Fight off the winter duldrums by gathering together to share a traditional meal of haggis, neeps 'n tatties and kick up your heels to traditional music.

A Bit of History - The tradition began with a memorial dinner held at Burns’ Cottage in his birthplace Alloway, on July 21, 1801. Nine of Burns’ close friends gathered to celebrate his memory and his work with a meal of traditional Scottish fare and readings of Burns’ poetry. That first event was such a success that the organizers began celebrating each year on Burns’ birthday - January 25th. Since its beginnings in 1801, Burns Night, and the Burns Supper, have become a way for Scots, people of Scotting descent and lovers of Burns’ works to come together and celebrate. Burns suppers can be large, formal events or small, casual gatherings in someone’s home. It is common for pipe bands around the world to hold a Burns supper as an annual fundraiser.

Burns Night Traditions

Piping-in the Haggis - Burns suppers include not only ancient Scottish traditions, but also the sarcastic and playful wit of Burns himself. The haggis, placed on a silver tray and paraded around the room with pomp and pageantry, elevates this humble dish of oats and innards to rival the very finest of foods. The haggis is the guest of honor!

Address to the Haggis - A fun and comically passionate poem celebrating the humble haggis, the address is usually recited theatrically, in the thickest Scottish accent possible.

Immortal Memory - A toast to the man himself, usually with a more serious tone, extoling the value of Burns’ literary legacy and giving the guests a taste of what the evening will hold.

Toast to the Lads and Lasses - Usually composed by one of the guests or presenters of the evening, this toast is a tongue-in-cheek “roast” of the opposite gender, but ending in a more loving celebration of the virtues of the lads and lasses. Northwest Junior Pipe Band has tweaked this tradition a bit, by choosing to do a “Toast to the Pipers and Drummers”, with a member of each musical corps writing and reciting a cheeky poem about our bandmates.

The Food

The Haggis - Often the subject of jokes and revulsion, it’s best to take a “don’t knock it til you’ve tried it” attitude toward Scotland’s national dish. Haggis is essentially Scottish meatloaf for adventurous eaters. Rich, hearty and aromatic - a well-prepared haggis is delicious and filling. Traditionally the ingredients include the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep, minced and mixed with beef or mutton suet and oatmeal, seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper, nutmeg and other spices. Vegetarian haggis is also quite popular! Often served with either gravy or a whisky-ceam sauce and accompanied by a dram of fine single malt scotch.

Neeps - mashed turnip

Tatties - potatoes - usually mashed

Cullen Skink - a creamy soup made of smoked haddock

Dessert - often Cranachan or Sticky Toffee Pudding

Beverages - The food is often accompanied by the finest Scotch Whisky

A ceilidh is a traditional Scottish dance - lively, full of energy, and featuring lots of twirling. Anyone who has ever done contra dancing or square dancing will likely feel right at home. And for those who fear they have 2 left feet, the caller will direct everyone on every step, in additional to a slowed-down practice walkthrough of every song. It is absolutely open to ALL, no experience necessary!