Mitchell's Burn's Page
Burn's Evenings, Piping the Haggis, Addressing and Toasts
(Waipa/Waikato,
New Zealand)
The Haggis Address
|
|
|
The special kilt, woven for Burn's evenings and Whisky tasting events.
It has the names of whisky distilleries woven into the pleats.
The pattern shows whisky ingredients.
I have piped for numerous Burn's evenings and Haggis ceremonies.
Altogether the information on this page will ensure your evening
will be very successful.
|
The Address to the Haggis
(In Lallan [Lowland]Scots).
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, great chieftain o’ the puddin’ race
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place, painch, tripe or thairm.
Weel are ye wordy of a grace, as lang’s my airm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill, in time o’ need,
While thro’ your pores the dews distill like amber bead.
His knife, see rustic labour dight an cut ye up wi’ ready slight
trenching your gushing entrails bright like onie ditch
And then, o’ what a glorious sight, warm-reekin’, rich.
Then horn for horn they stretch and strive, deil take the hindmost, on they drive
till all the well swalled kytes belyve, are bent like drums.
Th’ auld guid-man maist like to rive,‘Bethankt’ hums.
Is there that o’er his French ragout, or olio would staw a sow
or fricassee wad mak her spew, wi’ perfect scunner
looks down wi’ sneerin’, scornfu’ view, on sic a dinner?
Poor devil! See him ower his trash, as feckless as a withered rash
his spindleshank a guid whiplash, his nieve a nit
Thro’ bloody flood or field to dash, o, how unfit.
But, mark the Rustic, haggis-fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread
Clap in his wallie nieve a blaed, He’ll mak it whistle
And legs and airms and heids will sned, like taps o’ thrissle.
Ye pow’rs wha mak mankind your care, and dish them out their bill of fare
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware, that jaups in luggies;
But if ye wish her grateful prayer, gie her a Haggis
The following “Burns Grace” can be added after
the address to the haggis, if so desired...
O Thou who kindly dost provide
for ev’ry creature’s want
we bless the God of Nature wide
for all thy kindness lent
And, if it pleases thee Heavenly guide,
may never worse be sent.
But whether granted or denied
Lord, bless us wi’ content.
Amen.
Another "Burn's Grace" option is the "Selkirk Grace".
Some hae meat and some hae none
Some hae meat and cannae eat
But we hae meat
and we can eat
So let the Lord, be thankit.
Amen.
Having a Haggis at your event.
Some important tips.
For people to enjoy it at it's best
it must be served 'hot', as soon as possible after the address.
The reason being, it cools quickly because of the oatmeal.
Wee portions in paper cupcake holders accompanied
by a similar portion of "neeps and tatties"
is ideal, served quickly.
What's the process to prepare for having a Haggis?
Order one of a size that would serve the number of people expected
from a known Haggis maker, for delivery a day or two before the event.
Make sure it is in a proper stomach casing NOT plastic or something horrid.
Refrigerate but do not freeze. On the day of the event you will need to
heat the the haggis slowly for 2-3 hours depending on it's size, in a
large pan of simmering water. DO NOT BOIL, a low simmer is required or
else the casing will split and the Haggis be ruined. The Haggis has to
be heated right through and the preparation might be started at home and
then be completed by using the cooking facilities at whatever venue.
The food accompaniment to Haggis is "Neeps and Tatties". Tatties of
course refers to potatoes. These are mashed with Neeps. Neeps is a term
not much used in NZ and can be confusing because it refers to either
Turnips or Swedes. Your choice really, because either term reverses
it's target vegetable depending on which side of the border between
Scotland and England you're from. Here the distinction is your taste.
Boil the Neeps and Potatotes till cooked, mash with butter and milk
so that it too is ready for serving with the Haggis.
Just before The Haggis is required to be piped in to the traditional tune
"Scots Wha Hae" it will be removed from the simmer, dried off, and be
placed on a 'trencher', the big platter that will be carried by the
Haggis bearer as they march into the hall.
The procession follows the Piper in the order, the Haggis Bearer, the
Knife Bearer (carrying a drawn Dirk at chest level), the Toast Bearer
(with whisky bottle and tumblers on a small platter - if the venue is an
alchohol free one the bottle can contain Irn Bru or a liquid the colour
of whisky), and lastly the Defender carrying a drawn sword held blade
vertical and hilt held at waist level. On the platter with the whisky
would be a tumbler for each person in the procession.
You can be sure if there are more people in the procession, that they
are there solely for the whisky tasting! er.. the toast that follows
at the end of the "Address to the Haggis".
After this the Piper restarts and leads the procession back to the
servery where the Haggis will quickly be served out in the portions
suggested. Bon appetit.
Your go to Haggis, Funeral & Wedding Piper
Contact Bryan Mitchell for free advice on Kilted attire,
Pipers, Bagpipes and all associated aspects.
Ph. 64-7-870 5242, Fax (send by e-mail)
E-mail: kilts@xtra.co.nz
|