Burns Night Quiz

Burns Night is a meal held on or around the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns (25th January) it is often simply called a Burns Supper

The celebration may also be called Robert Burns Day or Burns Nicht and while on or close to the 25th January is the "correct" date they can, in principle be held at any time of the year - sounds like a good excuse for a party :)

Scotland and Northern Ireland have the highest numbers of Burns Suppers but they can be found all over the world where there are Burns Clubs, Scotland Societies, expat Scots and lovers of Burns' poetry.

One very strong Burns Night tradition can be found in Dunedin, southern New Zealand's main city Dunedin which was founded by Burns' nephew Thomas Burns.

When did Burns Night start?
Burns friends started them in Ayrshire toward the end of the 18th on the anniversary of his death, (21 July) as an "In Memoriam" and they are still held on this date too.

The Mother Club, started in 1801 by the merchants of Greenock, Ayrshire held the first January suppers in 1801. initially they held them on what was thought to be his birth date, 29th January but birth records discovered in 1803 proved the date to be 25th January 1759 and that date has stuck ever since.

Start of the evening
The same as any party, guests gather informally, maybe have some welcome drinks and small snacks.

Hosts Welcome Speech
The host makes a short speech to welcome everyone, maybe remind everyone of the reason for it and declare the party open.

Seating and Grace
Everyone takes their seats and grace is said. This is a specific form of grace known as the Selkirk Grace which was originally known as the Galloway Grace but came to be called the Selkirk Grace as Burns is said to have given it at a dinner held by the Earl of Selkirk.

The Selkirk Grace
Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, And sae let the Lord be thankit.

Once the grace is said the meal begins with a soup course such as Scotch Broth, Potato Soup or Cock-a-Leeki

Main Course - Entrance of the haggis
Traditionally a bagpiper plays 'A man's a man for a' that', 'Robbie Burns Medley' or 'The Star O' Robbie Burns'.

The host or a guest then recites the Address to a Haggis (see lower down the page for the address) At the line "His knife see rustic Labour dicht" the speaker draws and cleans his ceremonial knife. Then at "An' cut you up wi' ready slicht" he cuts it open from end to end.

When the address is finished there will then be a Scotch Whiskey toast to the haggis and the main course is eaten.

Speeches and Toasts
Once the coffee stage is reached there are certain speeches and toasts made as follows:

Immortal memory
A short speech, remembering some aspect of Burns' life or poetry

Appreciation
The host thanks the Immortal Memory speaker and maybe makes a few comments. Depending on the event this could be formal or fun.

Toast to the Lassies
A speech my a male guest, in the old male days to thank the women who had prepared the meal but now wider in scope and amusing in nature with light hearted views on women.

Reply to the Toast to the Lassies
One bit reason why the mens toast should be light hearted is that the women get the last word by way of a reply speech! The lady speaker will give her views on men and reply to any points made in the mens speech. Speakers will often plan their speeches in advance so they compliment each other and add more humour.

Other Toasts
May follow depending on the guests or nation where the dinner is taking place.

Works by Burns
After all the speeches it's common to sing Burns songs such as Ae Fond Kiss, Parcel O' Rogues, A Man's a Man and to read poems like To a Mouse, To a Louse, Tam O' Shanter, The Twa Dugs, Holy Willie's Prayer.

This can go on for a looong time and may include other poems by poets influenced by Burns, especially if written in Scots.

Closing
The host ends the evening by calling on a guest to give the vote of thanks, then everyone stands, joins hands, and sings Auld Lang Syne which brings the evening to an finish.

Instant Quiz create quiz packs for quizmasters all over the world, from small pub or club quizzes to national events, their quiz packs deliver the best brain teasing trivia questions.

For Burns Night they have a specific set of quizzes and if you want to round out a larger quiz then they also do a great range of Scotland themed quizzes.

Download them here

The Burns night pack is made up as follows:

Round 1 - Robert Burns - His life and times

Round 2 - The Burns Night Supper - 10 questions about the food, drink and parts of a Burns Supper

Round 3 - Scottish Pop Music

Round 4 - Robert/Burns - 10 quick questions whose answer is either a Robert or a Burns

Round 5 - Mixed Bag of Scottish Questions

Interval Round - Picture Quiz - Scottish Sport

Here is the address with some of the more tricky words "translated" beneath each verse.

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 o' a grace
As lang's my arm.

sonsie = jolly/cheerful
aboon = above
painch = paunch/stomach, thairm = intestine
***

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 distil
Like amber bead.

urdies = buttocks
***

His knife see rustic Labour dicht,
An' cut you up wi' ready slicht,
Trenching your gushing entrails bricht,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sicht,
Warm-reekin, rich!

dicht = wipe, here with the idea of sharpening
slicht = skill
reeking = steaming
***

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve,
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
"Bethankit" hums.

deil = devil
swall'd = swollen, kytes = bellies, belyve = soon
bent like = tight as
auld Guidman = the man of the house, rive = tear, i.e. burst
***

Is there that o're his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi' perfect scunner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

olio = stew, from Spanish olla'/stew pot, staw = make sick
scunner = disgust
***

Poor devil! see him ower his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro' bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

nieve = fist, nit = louse's egg, i.e. tiny
***

But mark the Rustic, haggis fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his wallie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whistle;
An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned,
Like taps o' thristle.

wallie = mighty, nieve = fist
sned = cut off
thristle = thistle
***

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!

skinkin ware = watery soup
jaups = slops about, luggies = two-"eared" (handled) continental bowls

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