January Burns! at No. 28, Belper, UK

The English seem to find other cultures' celebrations irresistible; well who doesn't enjoy getting together for food, drink and a good old knees up?! So we celebrate St Patrick's day, we celebrate Día de los Muertos, so why not celebrate Burns Night too?

A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, the author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, occasionally known as Robert Burns Day, Robbie Burns Day or Rabbie Burns Day, but more commonly known as Burns Night (Scots: Burns Nicht).

Our Burns Night was held at No. 28 on Belper market place, a popular venue for art exhibitions, comedy nights and community meals.

This Burns Night supper was an event organised by my friend Miles for 'Freedom Feed Em' which is a monthly vegan meal, which is pay-what-you-want, with the money raised going to a charity of the cooks choice.

The chosen charity was the Padley centre, which enables homeless people and those in need in the centre of Derby. £200 was raised from the Burns Night meal.

Burns Nights comprise of a number of things including: a Scot's piper playing the bag pipes, a toast with Scotch whiskey, a meal of haggis, tatties and neeps, and a reading of Robert Burns poems.

Our Rabbie Burns poem was 'To a Mouse', and was performed by Miles and Nansy with the awesome power of sock pupets, as you can see in the photo above. The first verse goes like this:

Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murd'ring pattle!

All photos taken by me, poetry by Robert Burns. If you have enjoyed this glimpse into Burns Night please follow, upvote and resteem!

Until the next post, Nikki the MaskedBlogger. x