On Saturday, January 18, a group of more than 60 people joined together at Lac La Biche's Royal Canadian Legion to celebrate the life and times of Scottish poet Robert "Rabbie" Burns. Rabbie Burns Night events are held around the world to celebrate the life, literature and loves of the Scottish Bard from the 18th Century. And last week in Lac La Biche, almost 230 years after his death, Burns and the Scottish culture was celebrated with scotch, entertainment, speakers, scotch, bagpipes, kitls, haggis, and a lot of scotch.
The evening's emcee Mike Dempsey hoisted several toasts for the crowd to celebrate Burns and friendship. Special guest Angus Campbell is a renowned bagpipe player who made the trip from Fort McMurray. Campbell taught Lac La Biche Rabbie Burns Night organier Molly Fyten to play the bagpipes, which she did during the night.
“Everything was great. The speakers were excellent and entertaining,” Fyten told the POST following the night of food, drink and fun.
Campbell said he was pleased to share in the Lac La Biche communtiy's first official tribute to Burns, who is known for creating song and literature works like the new year staple, "Auld Lang Syne" and poems with well-known verses like "my love is like a red, red rose." Campbell, with his rolling Scottish accent, talked the guests through a slide show of Scottish history and Burns bagckground. Campbell also helped to pipe in the guests and performed the historic Address to the Haggis. The meat-dish that is comprised of several animal organs ground up with a suet filling and baked in an animal's stomach lining is a traidition of the Burns Night events.
A verse from the traditional Address to the Haggis"
"Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer,
Gie her a haggis!"
“The crowd was not only entertained, but they also learned some things about the event itself, Robbie Burns, the history behind it," said Fyten, "and tried some traditional Scottish food."
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While Burns was the reason for the night, the haggis shared much of the spotlight. Carried out on a silver platter, the haggis was initially piped into the room of party-goers in a procession lead by Fyten and her bagpipes. Most of the people at the event admitted they had not tried the meat dish, and were sampling it for the first time.
“I heard a lot of comments about the haggis. Everyone said it was really good. It was also a good experience for people who have never tried it before, they were surprised at how delicious it was,” says Fyten.
Anyone who wanted to try haggis or take part in the unique Scottish-themed event will have have another chance next year, says Fyten, who plans to make the celebration an annual party.
“I’ve had a lot of people expecting to have the event next year. I hope to make it an annual event, and it will be around the same time again next year.”
Burns' actual birthday is January 25, but Burns Night events around the world are held in the days and weeks around the date.
Burns passed away on July 21, 1796 at the age of 37. He was the father to 10 children
