The Yorkton & District Scottish Society hosted its 38th Annual Robbie Burns Dinner and Dance at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Yorkton Saturday. The event marked the 257th anniversary of the famed Scottish poet who was born in 1759. The event included the traditional piping in of the haggis, led by piper Ferne Katzberg. The ‘Address to the Haggis’ was recited by Wendy Sumer. This poem was written by Burns to celebrate his appreciation of the Haggis. As a result Burns and Haggis have been forever linked. The poem is always the first item on the program of Burn’s suppers. The haggis is generally carried in on a silver salver at the start of the proceedings. Sheila MacDonald was this year’s haggis bearer. After the official ceremony supper was served including of course haggis. Traditionally haggis is a savoury pudding containing sheep’s pluck (heart, liver and lungs); minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally encased in the animal’s stomach, although many modern recipes forego the sheep’s pluck in favour of lamb or beef burger.
