New England Celebrates Scottish Poet Robert Burns

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Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns (January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796), is revered and celebrated in his native country and around the world. Burns Night began in 1801, five years after Burns’ death, and has continued enthusiastically ever since.

This devotion to Burns’ memory is especially evident in New England, where generations of Scots and Scots-Irish have settled over the past 400 years.

To honor his birthday each year, New Englanders celebrate with traditional Scottish music and song, poetry and toasts and cuisine and congeniality. Here is a selection of Robert Burns celebrations that take place in 2019, compiled by the Boston Irish Tourism Association.

January 25
Robert Burns Scottish Night
Irish Cultural Centre
200 New Boston Road, Canton
The weekly music session at the ICC on January 25 is devoted to Scottish music and particularly the works of Robert Burns, Scotland's great poet and writer. The session is free and open to the public.

January 26
Robert Burns Dinner
Champney’s Restaurant & Tavern
Deerfield Inn, 81 Old Main St.
Deerfield
Popular bagpiper Eric Goodchild emcees the Robert Burns Dinner in historic Deerfield. Socializing starts at 5 p.m. with dinner starting at 6 p.m. Expect a traditional supper, music, songs and poetry, a “stabbing o’ the haggis and the skirl of the pipes” in celebration of Scotland’s national poet.

January 26
Worcester Kiltie Pipe Band Burns Night
Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester
A night of piping, poetry and Scottish ceilidh music with Elias Alexander and the Bywater Band. Dinner includes roast beef and chicken picatta.

January 26
Scottish Arts, Inc presents
Robert Burns Dinner
Masonic Temple
200 Main Street
Nashua NH
This 4th annual Robert Burns gathering in Nashua features good food, good whisky, haggis, piping, dance, good cheer and good poetry. The event is hosted by Scottish Arts, Inc., a non-profit organization that teaches Highland dance, bagpipes, fiddle and drum throughout the year.

January 26 & 27
Burns Night at the Haven
The Haven
2 Perkins Street, Jamaica Plain, Boston
The Haven’s Burns Night includes a three-course meal of haggis, cullen skink, and more (with vegetarian options available), a single malt scotch toast, songs and poetry. Piper Elias Alexander entertains with Scottish music, and there is an address to the Haggis and a toast to the lassies.

January 27
Robert Burns Celebration Concert
First Parish Unitarian Universalist Congregation
7 Harrington Road, Lexington
New England tenor Austin Burns and special guest Allison Flanagan present a concert dedicated to Scotland poet Robert Burns. Sets include songs about the countryside and “wild men” like Burns himself as well as dance music and ballads. Featured arrangements are by Maureen McMullan, a professor at Berklee College of Music, Arthur Foote, Franz Haydn and Austin Burns. Participants are encouraged to wear kilts, tartan colors and dancing shoes to the concert. A freewill offering will defray expenses.

January 29
Greater Boston Community Burns Supper
The Burren Pub
247 Elm Street, Davis Square, Somerville
6 – 10 p.m.
First organized in 2010, this community event takes place in one of the Boston area’s most notable tradition music pubs, this annual celebration of Robert Burns features a traditional Scottish meal, Scotch whisky, recitations of works by, about, and in the spirit of the Bard of Scotland and a pub sing-along. The event takes place in the acoustically superior Burren Back Room and there is a vegetarian option for the meal.

February 2
Leominster Burns Night Supper
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
99 Erdman Way, Leominister
Celebrating the life and works of Robert Burns, this event features music by popular Scottish singer Charlie Zahm with special guests the Scots Highland Pipes and Drums, plus Katriona and Calum Bell. The meal features a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings ad haggis. The event is hosted by Class Act Imports and proceeds benefit Friends Never Forget and Operation Camp.

February 2
A Celebration of Robert Burns
New England Scottish Arts Centre
Saint Methodios Center
329 Camp Merrimack Road
Contoocook, NH
Reception, cocktails in the Great Room. Celtic Beats plays for ceilidh dancing, traditional Burns toasts. Dinner includes steak tips, neeps, tatties and haggis. Featured musicians include Campbell (pipes) and Marielle (fiddle) Webster.

February 8-9
Love Scotland – Music for Brave Hearts
Marblehead Little Theatre
12 School Street, Marblehead
A romantic and rousing concert celebrating Scotland’s Robert Burns, musicians include piper, singer and fiddler Elias Alexander, singer Julianne Gearhart and pianist Neil Pearlman, with narration by BBC’s Rhod Sharp. This year’s concert brings a musical vision to Burns’ poem of pub society, horse riding under the influence and a dance of witches.

February 16
Burns Night 2019
Hamilton Hall
9 Chestnut Street, Salem
Seated Supper, Open Bar, Poetry, Scottish Dancing, Scotch Whisky Tasting with Brand Ambassadors and Experts. Also, enter to win a free trip to the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, provided by the National Trust for Scotland.

Read about the statue to Robert Burns in downtown Boston.


Find out more about Irish and Scottish cultural activities in New England by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com.






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