If you have got this far, thank you so much for reading.
Some information that you may or may not find useful:
ROBERT BURNS
Robert Burns was born on January 25th, 1759. He is considered to be Scotland's National poet.
His romantic poetry is incredibly popular: My love is like a Red Red Red Rose, Ae fond kiss, Delia.
In over 700 poems, songs, stories and adaptations he also wrote about:
Nature: To a Mouse, To a Louse, To a Mountain Daisy,
Politics and Society: The Rights of Women, A Man's a Man for A That, The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer, Cock Up Your Beaver.
History: The Battle of Sherramuir, Killiecrankie, Ye Jacobites By Name.
Funny Stuff: Tam o' Shanter (my favourite), Address to the Toothache
Sex: He wrote about that a lot.
As well as his original work, he was a collector of traditional songs and often updated and adapted them such as, Auld Lang Syne and the one time Scottish National Anthem, Scots Wha Hae.
Burns was born in Ayrshire on the West coast of Scotland and worked for his father, a poor tenant farmer, from being a child. His schooling was erratic as he needed on the farm. He and his 6 younger siblings were mostly homeschooled by their father, who had taught himself to read. He began writing poetry to impress the lassies at 16. His first book of poems was published in 1786, as he tried to raise money to emigrate to the West indies. He never got to Jamaica as the Ploughman Poet became an overnight success in a time of pen and paper and word of mouth. Burns was a prolific writer and left a huge legacy, which was fortunate for us as he died 10 years after being first published aged only 37.
BURNS NIGHT
The first Burns Supper was held in 1801 and are now held by Burns Societies all around the world, as well as in hotels, pubs, clubs, community centres, schools and in homes. Primarily in Scotland, but very popular in the North of England (especially in Tweaven). Also places further south and around the world with a Scottish influence and population. I have no official figures regarding this, but I would definitely say Burns Night is becoming more popular and organized evenings are becoming easier to find every year outside Scotland. Some also say that Burns Night is celebrated in Scotland in larger numbers than St Andrews Day.
There is an order of play (so to speak) but as Burns Nights become more popular and widespread, the more variations on a theme there are.
The main constants are: Haggis, a piper to pipe in the haggis, rendition of Burns poem, Address to a Haggis (which he may have written with a tongue firmly in his cheek) and a wee dram of whisky to toast the Haggis, Auld Lang Syne to end.
A proper Burns supper also includes the Selkirk Grace (attributed to Burns) and a Toast to the Lassies and a Reply from the Lassies! (These are original written toasts by the guests and meant to be fun and a bit of banter between the lads and lassies, a bit like Best Man and Chief Bridesmaid speeches at a wedding). I felt poor Paddy and Bernie had enough to contend with, but may work on an epilogue for next January... I am thinking Fred could toast the Poplar lassies and maybe Val to reply?
HIGHLAND DRESS
Onto Paddy's Highland Dress...Kilts-4-U is a real company google them. I spent a disgusting amount of time "researching" on there.
The Jabot is that frilly layered ruffle that you also see in 18th century male dress.
The Jabot was optional, but I wanted Paddy to feel as uncomfortable as possible. A shirt and tie or bowtie would have sufficed. Waistcoat was optional, but it is Patrick!
Jacobite Shirt is like a smock with a collar and shoestring ties at the V neck. (Why not!)
There are various jackets that can be worn, but I do like a nice Montrose jacket, very tidy.
The kilt pin does not attatch the front of the kilt to the piece underneath. It is there to just weigh the front apron down. The story goes we have Queen Victoria to thank for this, after an incident..aherm. (don't tell Bernie)
CLANS
The Hope and Home Clans are real and I tried to describe the tartan and crests as well as I could, the mottos and slogans are correct. When I realized Mannion was not a Scottish name, I had to think out of the box and when I saw Home and Hope were both Scottish clans it was a no-brainer with these two.
I think the Sgian-Dubh I covered in the fic, it's pronounced ski an do
Home is pronounced Hume
English Translations of Burns Quotes used in the Fic.
Chapter One: Address to a Haggis by Robert Burns 1786.
Burns: Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the pudding-race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm : Weel are ye wordy o'a grace As lang's my arm.
Translation: Fair full your honest, jolly face, Great chieftain of the sausage race! Above them all you take your place, Stomach, tripe, or intestines: Well are you worthy of a grace As long as my arm.
B: His knife see rustic Labour dight, An' cut you up wi' ready sleight, Trenching your gushing entrails bright, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm-reekin', rich!
E: His knife see rustic Labour wipe, And cut you up with ready slight, Trenching your gushing entrails bright, Like any ditch: And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm steaming, rich!
Chapter Two: Versicles On Sign-Posts by Robert Burns 1788.
B: His Face With Smile Eternal Drest, Just Like The Landlord's To His Guest's, High As They Hang With Creaking Din, To Index Out The Country Inn.
E: His face with smile eternal dressed, Just like the landlord to his guest, High as they hang with creaking din. To index out the Country Inn.
Chapter Three: To A Mouse by Robert Burns, 1785.
B: The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men. Gang aft agley. An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain. For promis'd joy!"
E: The best laid schemes of mice and men, Go often askew, And leaves us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!
Chapter Four: To a Mountain Daisy, Robert Burns 1786
B: There, in Thy Scanty Mantle Clad, Thy Snawie Bosom Sunward Spread.
E: There, in your scanty mantle clad, Your snowy bosom sun-ward spread,
Chapter Five: Ae Fond Kiss, Robert Burns 1791
B: Who Shall Say That Fortune Grieves Him. While The Star of Hope She Leaves Him?
E: Who shall say that Fortune grieves him, While the star of hope she leaves him?
The Tweaven Folk Band featuring Kevin and Mac are available for Birthdays, Chrisentings, Anniversaries, Weddings, Graduations and Bar Mitzvah.
I will be updating the Crown inn Jukebox on Spotify ASAP!
LINKS (really hates any hint of a link FF)
BBC Arts. Robert Burns (excellent resource contains 719 poems and celebrity audio including Richard Wilson and Robert Carlyle)
Eddi Reader The Songs of Burns (Fabulous Album by a brilliant singer)
Robert Burns Federation (English Translations)
Robert Burns Encyclopedia (English Translations)
Haggis: Good old Wiki good as any.
TheGay Gordons: You Tube good as any,
Kilts-4-U (enough said)
Scotclans (For all clan info including Home and Hope)
Home Clan Crest Brooch Luckenbooth (I added the Emerlad as green is significant for the Home clan and would suit Bernie lol)