Burns Night 2019: What is haggis made from, what is the Address to a Haggis and where can you buy it?
Everything you need to know about the traditional dish eaten during Robert Burns' celebration
BURNS Night is finally here.
Tonight Scotland will come together to celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns.
The supper and address is held on January 25, his birthday.
But what actually is haggis and how is Burns celebrated?
What exactly is haggis?
Haggis is a Scottish dish traditionally made from the heart, stomach or liver of a sheep or calf.
The meat is mixed with onion, suet and oatmeal and boiled in the stomach of the animal.
Recipes can vary, but lamb lungs, liver and heart are often used.
The meat is usually served with neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes).
What is the Address to a Haggis?
The haggis is the star attraction in the running order of events for Burns Night.
Guests normally stand to welcome the arrival of the dish, which is often served on a silver platter and piped in by bagpipes.
The host then performs a rendition of the Address to a Haggis, before slicing the haggis along its length.
The reader then raises the haggis during the final line of the ode to applause from the crowd.
The guests then toast the haggis and then the dish can served.
There are usually several toasts throughout the evening, with the night ending with guests holding hands singing Auld Lang Syne.
Where can I buy haggis from?
The dish is available from many supermarkets in the UK.
Morrisons and Sainsbury’s have microwavable options available for a few pounds.
Tesco have a version which can be boiled, microwaved or cooked in the oven, and have a vegetarian alternative with pulses and seeds.
You can also buy a haggis from Lidl, and Aldi has a canned version.
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Some stores will be celebrating Burns Night by having bagpipers playing in store and an address to the haggis taking place live.
What is Burns Night?
Every year the life and work of poet Robert Burns is celebrated around the globe at the end of January.
The tradition began after the Scottish lyricist’s death in 1796, when his friends decided they needed an annual event to celebrate his career.
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When it was first launched, Burns’ friends decided to hold the event annually on the date the poet died (July 21).
However, Burns night nowadays is held every year on January 25, which was his birthday.
This year Burns night falls on a Friday - which is today.
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