Selected items from the St. Andrew's Society of Ottawa Newsbulletin -
Winter 2006 - Vol 160 #1 - ISSN 1492-4439 (Online)
- updated 06 Nov 2006   other News bulletins  go to St Andrew's Society of Ottawa Page 

Our Burns Supper is on Saturday 28th January 2006, again at the Cedarhill Golf & Country Club, Cedarhill Drive off Cedarview Road. Don MacLean will propose "The Immortal Memory". Don is from Stirling and worked at Prestwick Aiport for many years. Alan James (who recited Holy Willie's Prayer last year) will propose a "Toast to the Lassies" and his wife Christine will reply. Alex Mackie is our Master of Ceremonies, and Stuart Jardine will address the haggis, to be piped in by Neil Foster. There is ample parking at the club, which is just north of Fallowfield at 56 Cedar Hill Drive. The evening will start with a cash bar; there will be assigned seating - tables of eight, so if you can, please make up tables. The 3-course dinner is buffet style, with roast beef, together with the traditional "neaps, tatties an' haggis" - 6 for 6.30pm; 7 pm supper. Tickets $40.

Tenor John McDermott is giving a concert at Centrepointe Theatre, Friday January 20th 2006, 7.30 pm. Tickets $37.50 - or $47.50 including a $10 charitable donation to the SOS Children's Villages Canada. Details - Centrepointe Box Office 580-2700 or www.soschildrensvillages.ca

Tüna, six of Montreal's finest Celtic musicians, present a concert, Celtic Chorale featuring the St-Ambroise Celtic Choir of Montreal. Pollack Hall, Schulich School of Music, McGill University, Saturday February 4, 2006 at 7:30 pm.The programme combines traditional songs with newly created Celtic music featuring the lyrics of author Trevor Ferguson, and the music of composer-arranger Dave Gossage. Advance tickets are $25, ($20 for seniors and $15 for students). This includes one free beer and hors d'oeuvres at the party. Admission at the door is $28, ($23 for seniors and $18 for students). Tickets may be purchased at the Pollack Hall Box Office at (514) 398-4547 or by calling Evan Productions at (450) 466-1457. This concert event is sponsored by McAuslan Brewing and Hurley's Irish Pub, Montreal.

Members and friends are invited to a Quebec Sugar Bush Outing - arranged by Ian Campbell. Youngsters should particularly enjoy it! Sugar Bush Brunch Details: Saturday, March 25, 2006. Arrival time about 11:00 am to eat at 11:30am. Each person pays for their own meal; prices $8 - $12; no other charges. If possible, please phone Hugh Reekie at 728-5343 or Ian Campbell at 233-9806; reservations appreciated but come anyway, without prior booking.

Driving Directions: After crossing the MacDonald-Cartier bridge from Ottawa to Gatineau take Highway 50 heading East; take Exit 159 at Ave. des Laurentides and head north (1.5km); Turn left at the T Junction (Chemin Fillion) and then immediately turn right at Chem. Lamarche heading north again until the next T Junction - this is Chemin Pierre-Laporte. Turn left (west) and look for Camping Le Domaine l'Ange Gardien on the right (address is 1031 Pierre-Laporte Road, L'Ange-Gardien). Driving time about 35 minutes from the MacDonald-Cartier bridge.

Plans for restarting our Sunday afternoon lecture series remain on hold. However the Sunday afternoon Cooking Demonstration is in the initial planning stages. Possibly Sunday 2nd April, 2.30pm at a venue to be determined. Our Tartan Day Dinner, with AGM, is also in the planning stages; likley Saturday/Sunday 8/9th April, also at an undetermined venue.

The Spring Scots Heritage Tour will be on a Saturday in May/June; it will start at St. Elmo's Church, north of Maxville. This was a "Free kirk" with Charles Gordon as minister; under the pen-name Ralph Connor, he wrote many novels, including Glengarry Schooldays. We'll visit the Glenagarry Museum in Dunvegan and finish up at the Côte St Georges one-room schoolhouse, just east of Dalhousie; it has a long Scots' history. Arrangements for both a church lunch and tea are being made. The optional Dinner will be at Priest's Mill, Alexandria. Some details remain open. The date will be firmed up by early March. As usual, travel will be by private car. Fee - about $40.

Expect the Spring edition of the Newsletter out sometime in March, when most details of the events above will be known.

There was a small crowd for the December "Pub night" at The Highlander, Rideau St. - and we were offered a small complimentary whisky shot. For these events, arrive by 6.30 for a 7pm supper. Most are held on the second Monday of the month: Feb 13 The Black Bear, Albert at Bay; March 13 The Tartan Pub, 4025 Innes Rd, in the Shopping Centre, corner of Jeanne D'Arc. April 24th (note the later date) we plan to be at The Glen, Kanata. Reservations appreciated - Hugh Reekie 728-5343.

Our 2005 Dinner and Gala had a few last-minute surprises, and the numbers were down a little, but those present thought it was a great success. The staff at the Crowne Plaza accommodated the changes with aplomb. Stuart Jardine addressed the haggis, but our Guest of Honour Jim Watson was unable to attend. Ross McLellan was delighted to be "Scot of the Year. Ermis Durifil was unable to provide the 78th Fraser's Pipe Band, but managed to provide a group from the Glengarry Pipe Band at short notice; thank you. The Fiona Champagne Dancers produced some interesting dances this year. MC David Martin ran the formal part of the evening well, and Charlie Inglis had quite an audience as he led dancers in a range of Scottish dances; there was much going to-and-fro to the Ballroom dancing, ably DJ'd by Larry Hines of Virtronics.

Your Executive worked hard for the success. Hugh & Frances Reekie arranged for seating & printing; Bob Bhan ran the membership/display table, assisted by Wilma Jardine; John Shaver - wall hangings; Lynn Paul, Pat Shaver, table decorations. The formal part of the evening concluded with a vote of thanks from Acting Gala Chair Margaret Littlejohn - as Gala Chair Margaret Bell was indisposed; our thanks to all for a job well done.

Make a note for next year: the same facilities have been booked for Saturday 18th November 2006.

by Douglas Gibson, formerly First Vice-President, St Andrew's Society of Toronto

This article appeared first a couple of years ago in The Toronto Star at "Burns-tide". It might be considered essential reading for all those who are called upon to address, or even to listen to, Burns' poem To A Haggis.

The Scottish poet Robert Burns was born on January 25, 1759. In the coming days around the anniversary of his birth, hundreds of thousands of whisky-loving Canadians will become temporary Scots to celebrate the man and his work at Burns Suppers across the land. Roughly 99% of these attendees will have one thing in common. When the ceremonial haggis is borne into the room amid scenes of enthusiasm and is loudly addressed in Burns's own words, they will not have a clue what is being said.

It will be clear to them that a basically simple event ("Here's the haggis. Looks good. Let's cut it up and eat it.") is being transformed into a mock-epic comic ceremony of pretended deep significance. But the language might as well be Swahili: words like "sonsie", "painch", "thairm", "hurdies", "dight", "kytes", "rive", "sconner", "nieve", and "jaups", among many others, are a mystery. Even worse, many of the familiar words that seem to point a way through the fog of misunderstanding &endash; "puddin", "wordy", "hums", "rash", "nit", "flood", and "taps" among them &endash; have totally unexpected meanings here.

As a public service, to demystify the event, I offer a translation. I make no claim that it is definitive, since many of the lines offer alternative versions that also make sense. But I can claim some expertise. I grew up among farming folk in Ayrshire, Burns' Country, and in my youth the old farmers still spoke in much the same way as the poet. Later at St. Andrews University, I studied Burns and even &endash; ahem &endash; won the Sloan Prize for composition in the old Scots tongue. And I am, heaven knows, a veteran of many Burns Suppers, starting in my long-ago student days and continuing this year, when I will deliver the Immortal Memory to the St. Andrew's Society of Montreal.

No doubt other suggested translations will occur to knowledgeable readers &endash; it goes without saying that the 1% who do understand the poem consider themselves to be the living authority on its meaning.

With proper humility, then, I offer the following translation and commentary, to allow attentive readers to astound their table companions with their learning.

This package was reprinted in the St Andrew's Society of Toronto Newsletter, and is reprinted here with the author's permission. Thanks also to Ian McHaffie, Toronto Society Newsletter Editor.

Verse 1

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face

Great chieftain o' the puddin'-race!

Aboon them a' ye tak your place

  Painch, tripe, or thairm:

Weel are ye wordy of a grace

  As lang's my arm.

Verse 2

The groaning trencher there ye fill

Your hurdies like a distant hill

Your pin wad help to mend a mill

  In time o' need,

While thro' your pores the dews distil

  Like amber bead

Verse 3

His knife see rustic Labour dight,

An' cut you up wi' ready slight,

Trenching your gushing entrails bright

  Like ony ditch;

And then, O what a glorious sight,

  Warm-reekin', rich!

Verse 4

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive,

Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,

'Till all their weel-swall'd kytes belyve

  Are bent like drums;

Then auld guidman, maist like to rive,

  "Bethankit!" hums.

Verse 5

Is there that owre his French ragout,

Or olio that wad staw a sow

Or fricassee wad mak her spew,

  Wi' perfect sconner,

Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view

  On sic a dinner?

Verse 6

Poor devil! see him owre his trash

As feckless as a wither'd rash,

His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,

  His nieve a nit;

Thro' bloody flood or field to dash

  O how unfit!

Verse 7

But mark the rustic, haggis-fed,

The trembling earth resounds his tread,

Clap in his walie nieve a blade,

  He'll mak it whissle;

An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned,

  Like taps o' thrissle.

Verse 8

Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,

And dish them out their bill o' fare,

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware

  That jaups in luggies;

But, if ye wish her gratefu' pray'r,

  Gie her a Haggis!

And npow, Translated intoEnglish - - -

Verse 1 - The Haggis is Greeted

Greetings and good luck to your honest, cheerful face.

Great chieftain of the intestine-based race of foods!

You rank above all other dishes coming from the

   paunch, tripe, or guts;

You truly deserve a grace

  As long as my arm.

Verse 2 - Tribute is Paid to its External Dimensions and Attractions

You fill this platter that groans beneath your weight,

Your hips swell like a distant hill,

A skewer on that scale would help to mend a mill

  In time of need,

While through your pores the dews distil

  To form amber-coloured beads of moisture

Verse 3 - The Personification of Rustic Labour Slices the Haggis

Watch as rustic Labour wipes his knife,

And cuts you up with easy skill,

Digging a great trench in your bright moist innards

  Just like a ditch;

And then, O what a glorious sight,

  Steaming, warm, with good rich smells!

Verse 4 - An Imagined Group of Diners Demolishes the Haggis

Then, wielding their horn spoons they dig in, stretching and competing,

Every man for himself, on they drive,

Till in due course all of their well-swollen bellies

  Are stretched as tight as drums;

Then the master of the house, the one most likely to burst,

  Stammers the usual grace after meat, "God be thanked!"

Verse 5 - Effete French Dishes Are Disparaged

Is it possible that anyone &endash; over his French "ragout,"

Or his "olio" stew that would bloat even a sow,

Or his "fricassee" that would make her vomit,

  In total disgust &endash;

Could look down in a sneering, scornful way

  On such a dinner as this haggis?

Verse 6 - Those Who Eat Effete French Dishes Are Disparaged

Poor devil! Just look at him eating his trashy fare,

As feeble as a withered reed,

His skinny leg, thin as the end of a whip,

  His dainty fist small as a hazelnut;

How unfit he is to play a dashing part

  In battles at sea or on the land!

Verse 7 - By Contrast, Tribute is Paid to the Formidable Nature of Haggis-Fed Men

But consider the haggis-fed man from the country,

The very earth trembles beneath his heavy tread,

Put a blade into his mighty fist,

  And he'll make it whistle to good effect;

Shearing off opponents' legs, and arms, and heads,

  As easily as cutting off thistle tops.

Verse 8 - The Gods Are Invoked To Keep Scotland Supplied with Haggis

You Powers who look after mankind,

And distribute food among them,

Old Scotland wants no watery dishes

  That splash around in their bowls;

But, if you want her prayers of gratitude,

  Give her a haggis!

Commentary

Verse 1 In the old days Burns extremists in Scotland would greet the entry of the haggis by standing on their chairs, putting their right foot on the table, drinking a dram of whisky, then tossing the empty glass back over their shoulders to the floor. This is no longer advised. Because this is a mock-epic, however, the person addressing the haggis tends to adopt a properly exaggerated tone, full of dramatic gestures.

Verse 2 "Hurdies" translated here as "hips", can also mean "buttocks." "Pin" can mean "hip-bone" but some believe that Burns was also making a pun on the virile nature of the jutting skewer. A mill would, of course, contain the largest piece of machinery known to the poet's audience.

Verse 3 The reference to "His knife" allows the orator to brandish the knife to great effect, before the actual moment of slicing. One hero in my presence turned in mid-brandish to lunge at the attendant chef, who was standing respectfully beside him, and proceeded to impale his white chef's hat. It is very important that this move be rehearsed with the chef. A knowledgeable orator will pronounce "dight", "slight", "bright" and "sight" as "dicht", "slicht", "bricht" and "sicht" &endash; as in "braw bricht moonlicht nicht."

Verse 4 "Deil tak the hindmost" &endash; "devil take the hindmost", the slowest, has entered the general language. As has the parallel proverb based on spooning from a common dish: "He who sups with the devil will need a long spoon."

Verse 5 Note that "sow" rhymes with "ragout" and "spew." If you wonder where the hog-calling competitors of the U.S. got their "soo-eee" call, look no further. The Scots (and the transplanted "Scotch-Irish" settlers from Ulster) who had poured through the Appalachians to settle the West originated the call when out on their homesteads in search of their sows, using the equivalent of "piggy, piggy."

Verse 6 The orator usually lets himself/herself go at this point, since the whole verse is ideally delivered through a sneer, with "Poor devil" properly pronounced "puir deeil," &emdash; which goes well with a sneer.

Verse 7 Frequently a sturdy attendant is singled out as "the rustic, haggis-fed", and his manly frame indicated, his shoulders clapped resoundingly, and so on. Equally effective is to single out a small, frail, bespectacled, undeniably urban figure for this role, preferably a blushing lawyer or accountant.

Verse 8 The final line "Gie her a Haggis!" is usually delivered as a crescendo, with all the company joining in. Frequently this is followed by everyone drinking a toast of whisky. Or simply drinking more whisky, showing that they have grasped the essence of the event.

Plans to revive the legacy of Robert Burns were given a lift last September with £100,000 funding for the Burns Federation. Patricia Ferguson, the Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister, announced the donation while addressing their annual meeting. The Scottish Executive have awarded the funding, over a five year period, to assist the federation's links with its 80,000 members worldwide.

It is hoped the award will allow the Federation to tap into its network of Burns Clubs to raise crucial funds to save the troubled Alloway's Heritage Park - which includes Burns' Cottage where he was born. The announcement has also raised hopes that the Scottish Executive will provide financial backing for plans to rejuvenate the cottage museum. Ms. Ferguson indicated that the Federation would play a crucial role in the Executive's plans to mark the 250th anniversary of Burns' birth in 2009.

       Summarized from The Scotsman 11 Sept 05   - with thanks to Bob Bhan

Dr Donald Smith, Chair, The Literature Forum for Scotland, has sent out the following request. If you wish to support the petition, please act by 11 Jan 2006.

Some have already supported the St Andrews Day petition to the Scots Parliament on the teaching of Scottish literature, history and languages. We already have 1,500 supporters - and the initiative has received wide publicity. I am advised that we have a very good chance of moving the issue from a petition to formal investigation by Parliament. This begins with a hearing by the Petitions Committee on the morning of Wednesday 18th January 2006.

Here's what you can do. An edited version of the wording has gone on to the Scottish Parliament's web-site www.scottish.parliament.uk. Go to E-petitions - "Petition by Dr Donald Smith, on behalf of the Literature Forum for Scotland, calling for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to urgently review the study of Scottish history, literature and languages at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, to ensure that all citizens of Scotland have the opportunity to understand these key aspects of their own society and culture."

As an individual you can re-iterate your support by registering your name and address up to 11th January 2006. You can also write directly to Dr Jim Johnston, Clerk, Public Petitions Committee, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP. These letters are reported to the Committee as a further indication of support. e-mail james.johnston@scottish.parliament.uk

                                - with thanks to Bill White