Check this out - A Philly Burns night?

**KiltedHuntsman** · 29th November 04, 03:21 PM

Snagged from a website:

Robbie Burns Night January 14, 2005 - Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery, Phoenixville
Sly Fox's Third Annual Robbie Burns Birthday Bash will feature, as usual, the release of Gang Aft Agley Scotch Ale, Haggis and other Scottish treats and lots of folks in kilts. This year, the band Celtic Spirit will be playing as well. Things get under way at 6pm. More detail as they become available. For information: 610.935.4540

Anybody know anything about this?

**Magnus Sporrano** · 29th November 04, 04:01 PM

First I've heard of it but I'm always down for a pint at a brewhouse.

I think we have the makings for a January kilt night here, boys.

Now we just need one in December.

**macwilkin** · 29th November 04, 04:07 PM

This web site will give you a wee introduction to the custom of the Burns Supper:

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/supper/burns_supper_1.htm

They're great fun; I've been on our Burns Nicht committee for several years now.

Cheers,

T.

**TheFly** · 29th November 04, 05:29 PM

Hmmmmm. I don't work that night. I also have friends in Phoenixville.

**Jimmy Carbomb** · 29th November 04, 08:16 PM

I almost went last year, as I have a LOAD of friends that attend that one. Apparently, it's HUGE. It's very necessary that appropriate dress be worn.

I think I have about a toe-nail's amount of Scott in my blood, but that's not a problem at this event.

According to everyone, it's well worth the time to go. Due to the wedding, I have the waistcoat, traditional kilt, brogues, black bow tie and everything else.

**Jeremy** · 30th November 04, 10:46 AM

What's the definition of appropriate dress for Burns Night? Traditionally, it's about far from a stuffy occasion. I mean, the man wrote in Scots. U think full highland dress should be severe overkill.

**Jeremy** · 30th November 04, 10:47 AM

sorry, that should have been I think.

**Jeremy** · 1st December 04, 11:00 AM

OK, I've been corrected by the Glaswegian I work with. Full highland is apparently the way to go- it apparently had something to do with keeping the riff-raff out of the party. Apparently once Burns became an exizeman, he started hanging out with the nose in the air crowd.

**macwilkin** · 1st December 04, 11:22 AM

Jeremy,

A lot of it depends on the Burns Nicht in question. Usually if they are put on by a St. Andrew's, Scottish and/or Burns Society, than you can bet on it being "formal" dress, although this is not always the case. Best to check with the contact person for the dinner in question and see. Usually day jackets, a nice shirt and tie with a kilt will suffice, or a blazer/business suit for gents wi' no kilts (dress it up with a tartan tie, though!)

As far as Burns going, the whole concept of a Burns Supper came about AFTER his death -- it started with a group of his friends gathering to celebrate his life and works, and over time, it grew into a world-wide phenomena among Scots and their descendants. The customs of a Burns Supper came about through organisations like the World Burns Federation, St. Andrew's Societies, etc.

Burns could easily move from class to class; he was born a puir farmer wi' dung on his boots, but he moved up socially when he went to Edinburgh after his works were published. His sympathy was always for the common people. He had to be careful when he became an excise man, because it was a government post and he had expressed pro-Republican France comments, which would not be looked upon favourably by his bosses. He even joined the Dumfries Volunteers, the local militia unit, after France threatened war on the UK.

My grandfather was a farmer wi' dung on his boots as well, but he always dressed for church, the masonic lodge, etc. I personally love to put on the full dress "rig" -- it adds an air of excitement to the event.

Cheers,

T.