In the midst of the dreary January blues, the unofficial Scottish national holiday of Burns Night on the 25th is a welcome spark of relief from the cold and dark days. Whether or not you are familiar with the literary history of the city, the annual tribute to Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns on the anniversary of his birth is a perfect excuse to get together with friends for a hearty meal or a traditional ceilidh dance — or both. So, in case you are lacking inspiration or have no plans for the 25th, consider this your student-friendly guide to making the most of Burns Night!
Firstly, and arguably most importantly, spend the evening with people. A core tenet of Burns Night is the social gathering it occasions. Whether this means inviting all your friends over for a few drinks and nibbles in your inevitably cramped student kitchen or heading out to a local pub, the night is best enjoyed in good company rather than alone in your room! If going out sounds more appealing, a few venues in Edinburgh’s Old Town host Burns-themed events in the lead-up to the 25th. This includes the Three Sisters bar which offers a Burns student night on the 22nd, a ceilidh on the 23rd, and the infamous three-course Burns Night supper on the 25 January.
Even more student-oriented is the Burns Night Ceilidh held in Potterow on the 25th, where a live band accompanies an hour of dancing and subsequent Scottish food and drink sampling. All are welcome, from seasoned dancers to absolute novices, and traditional attire including kilts and plenty of tartan is encouraged but not a requirement.
If you’re anything like me, however, you might find the prospect of spending a few hours with your flatmates assembling a home-cooked meal and decorating the kitchen with fairy lights, candles, and charity-shop tableware more enticing. As Burns Night this year falls on a Sunday, it’s an opportunity to slow down after a hectic first two weeks back.
The traditional supper revolves largely around haggis with ‘neeps and tatties’ (turnips and potatoes, boiled and mashed separately). Although cooking haggis may seem intimidating, supermarkets in the days approaching Burns Night are often stocked with ample budget-friendly options, including vegetarian and vegan versions. Alternatively, if you can’t stomach haggis, Tunnock’s teacakes for dessert are a sweet Scottish classic that won’t disappoint.
Ultimately, while Burns Night is steeped in sentimental tradition (evident in dramatic recitals of Burns’ poem Address to a Haggis before the traditional meal), its real appeal — at least for most of us students — lies in bringing people together. It is both a chance to embrace a bit of Scottish culture and to turn a bleak winter’s night into a warm and cheery evening with good food, good music, and even better company.
Photo by Jennifer Bonauer on Unsplash.