It will be a celebration of all things Scottish as the members of the Summerland Pipes and Drums hold a Burns Supper near the end of this month.
The Robbie Burns Day event will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
The evening will be a tribute to Robbie Burns, Scotland’s most famous poet.
“It’s a celebration of his life,” said Roderick MacIntosh, drum major with Summerland Pipes and Drums. “He’s considered Scotland’s immortal bard.”
Around the world, Robbie Burns Day suppers are held as close as possible to Burns’ birthday on Jan. 25.
MacIntosh said celebrations can be found in Russia and China as well as in places with significant Scottish populations.
He said the popularity of Robbie Burns Day is because of his legacy of poetry. “He was the champion of the common man,” MacIntosh said.
Burns was born in 1759 and died in 1796 at the age of 37. He is the best known of the poets who wrote in the Scots language, although much of his writing was in English.
The supper will be a traditional Scottish meal of roast beef, champit tatties (mashed potatoes,) bashed neeps (chopped turnips,) green vegetables, salad, dessert and haggis.
For those who have not tried haggis, MacIntosh said it is a traditional part of the evening.
“Try it, you’ll love it. It’s nothing more than a sausage,” he said, adding that it is similar to turkey stuffing.
While the supper is in honour of Robbie Burns Day, MacIntosh said it is also a way for Summerland Pipes and Drums to show their appreciation to the community.
The pipe and drum band, originally based out of Peachland, relocated to Summerland in September, 2009. Council officially welcomed the band to the community in early July, 2010.