Thursday, 31 January 2019, Berlin, Her Britannic Majesty’s Embassy to the Federal Republic of Germany: British Ambassador to Germany, Sir Sebastian Wood and the Director of the Scottish Government Office in Germany, Dr. Alexandra Stein, marked British-German friendship by hosting guests at a traditional Scottish “Burns Supper”.
Annually on 25 January in Scotland proper as well as across the globe Robert Burns suppers take place to celebrate Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns – a pioneer of the literary romantic movement, patriot and philosopher who wrote in the Scots language as well as in vernacular English.
Burns suppers are festive dinners accompanied by readings of Robert Burns’ poetry and Scottish country dancing, with traditional haggis and, of course, fine Scottish whisky. The Burns Supper at the British Embassy showcased these Scottish traditions with a traditional “Ode to the Haggis” and the “Toast to the Lassies”, as well as a moving celebration of Burns’ enduring spirit “The Immortal Memory” by
Britain’s Ambassador to Germany, Sir Sebastian Wood, said: “What a bonnie Burns Night it was! The band was fantastic, the whisky and haggis delicious and our Embassy Wintergarten looked stunning. It was great to see so many of our German friends getting stuck into the Scottish dancing. I’m determined to make this a regular fixture on the Berlin calendar.“
The first ever Burns supper was reportedly held at the Mother Club in Greenock on 29 January 1802; in 1803 it was discovered from the Ayr parish records that his correct birthday was 25 January 1759, and thus the date was changed thereafter. Burns’ works are read and enjoyed throughout the world and have been translated into many languages. In 2009 the Scottish public voted Burns the greatest ever Scot.
For further information:
“Ode to the Haggis” at the British Embassy to Germany, 2019: https://www.facebook.com/UKinGermany/videos/1563130257153958/
Scottish Government Office in Germany: https://twitter.com/ScotHubGermany
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Images by Buddy Bartelsen for the British Embassy to Germany
