Burns Dinner in Baghdad

[JayFilomena]

I was sitting at dinner last night with a McKellar discussing such things as the Scottish clan that kicked the McKellers off their land...(I forgot the name of the rival clan) places we visited in Scotland, and of course our kilts. Eventually the topic of Haggis came up and neither of us has ever been to a Burns Dinner.... I was wondering, from any of my friends at xmarks, If you could give me a run down on how to have a Burns Dinner. Sheep are actually a very common commodity in Baghdad, and I don't think it would be difficult to get a local national to make haggis for us, given the recipe. I am thinking of ordering a Burns poetry book off ebay, so all I need now, is an idea of how to host the dinner. What to start off with,, when to serve the haggis, what poem to read and when...? For those of you who have had enjoyable evenings please let me know what your experience was like. Unfortunetly, I left my Pittsburgh Kilt at home on the last leave, and will have to see if a Local can sew me a similiar "quick Kilt". Any Advice would be welcome, and any wishing to attend are welcome also. :-D Just RSVP by next week so I can put in a request for my tactical team to pick you up at BIAP. (By Op) Baghdad International Airport.

[MacMullen]

I'm glad to hear that you're finding reasons and ways to celebrate over there. I'm sure there're a number of us that would like to join you! It'd definitely be a unique experience. Maybe there are some Scottish units that would make the trek to your location? Or, at least, maybe a piper.

Here is an excellent source for everything you ever wanted to know about a Burn's Supper:

http://www.auldlangsyne.org/itinerary.html

Note that all of the headings are clickable and contain a ton of information.

I just attended my first one in November, and it was that occasion that started me kilting. Besides being early, it was at a hunting camp up here in the UP of Michigan. Pics are posted here. Despite the non-traditional look of it all, the agenda was very traditional.

Stay safe!

[JayFilomena]

I just attended my first one in November, and it was that occasion that started me kilting. Besides being early, it was at a hunting camp up here in the UP of Michigan. Stay safe!

Wow Joel; is your host like 5' tall or are you about 7? I will check out the link on my computer later, as of right now I am on a community computer and cannot be here to long.

[macwilkin]

Jay,

Joel's site is a guid one to start with; here are a few more:

http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/...rns_supper.htm

http://www.macsween.co.uk/burns_night/burns_night.html

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

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

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/histor...rs/index.shtml

I agree with Joel; perhaps there are some Scots nearby (I can't remember who is over there now regiment-wise) who might wish to "throw in" with you on a Supper; I know in the first Gulf War Haggis was shipped to the Scottish Regiments for Burns Night.

One of my best friends is over there right now; Dave was a regular attendee of our Burns Night here in Missouri, and I'm sure he would love to attend yours if he can!

Drop me a PM and we'll talk more.

Cheers,

Todd

[MacMullen]

Wow Joel; is your host like 5' tall or are you about 7?

No, I'm only 6'10"