Burns Supper 2024; Credit: Jim Kelly

On Friday 24 January 2025, the Scottish community in Luxembourg will host a Burns Supper celebration at the Hotel Parc Belair in Luxembourg City.

The Burns Supper is an important date in the Scottish calendar and commemorates the life and poetry of Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burns Suppers are celebrated annually, usually close to the poet’s birthday on 25 January.

Chronicle.lu recently spoke with Margaret Ferns, one of the organisers of the Luxembourg Burns Supper, about the upcoming event.

Chronicle.lu: Please tell us about the origins of Burns Supper in Luxembourg. When was the event first organised and how many people are involved in the organisation and preparation?

Margaret Ferns: A Burns Supper is a celebration of the life and works of Robert Burns combining traditional Scottish food (notably the world-renowned haggis), drink, poetry, music and dancing. The first ever Burns Supper was held at Burns’ cottage in Ayrshire by some of his friends on 21 July 1801, the fifth anniversary of his death. It has been an annual event  ever since. 

Burns Suppers have been taking place in Luxembourg for more than 40 years. They have always been run by a committee of volunteers who are passionate about Burns. Also, good food, quality whisky (no “e”) and great company, of course. At the moment the committee is made up of five people: Anthea Mac Donald, Iain Urquhart, John Miller and Andy and Margaret Ferns. The committee has changed over the years with people coming and going, as well as sadly passing, but the Burns Supper remains the same. Immutable. 

Chronicle.lu: How important is Burns Supper (and indeed Robert Burns) to the Scottish community in Luxembourg?

Margaret Ferns: Robert Burns, and the annual Burns Supper, is hugely important to Scottish people and the Scottish diaspora. In Luxembourg it is the event of the year for the Scottish community. 

Ask any Scot about Burns and their eyes will mist with tears and a fierce pride will set fire to their blood. No exaggeration. Ask them why and they will tell you that Robert Burns was one of the finest poets that ever lived. A humble Scottish farmer who rose to become the delight of the Edinburgh elite yet never lost touch with the trials of the common man. Burns lived, loved (a lot) and died during some of the most turbulent times in Scottish history. His poems reflect these times from the point of view of everyday people, in the language of everyday people. He wrote in English and Scots.

His poems and songs are famous throughout the world, even if people do not often know that Burns was their author. Think Auld Lang Syne, sung at precisely midnight every New Year’s Eve and My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose, the valentines' favourite, to name just two.

Chronicle.lu: We understand that the event will follow a traditional Scottish theme. What can guests expect?

Margaret Ferns: The event will follow the time-honoured format of a traditional Burns Supper which includes; the Selkirk Grace (a short prayer of thanks in the Lallans dialect of lowland Scotland), Piping-in of the Haggis (a piper plays as the haggis is delivered to the table), Address to a Haggis (a recitation of Burns’ poem in tribute to the haggis), Immortal Memory (a reflection on Burns’ life and legacy), Toast to the Lassies (a man dares to make a speech about women), Reply to the Toast (a woman replies), Recitation (a recitation of a Burns poem, frequently, but not always, Tam O’Shanter); as well as Sangs an’ Clatter (singing and ceilidh dancing into the small hours).

Chronicle.lu: The menu is not one seen very often in Luxembourg. Do you provide a chef or is the venue’s chef given specific instructions or recipes?

Margaret Ferns: We deliver the haggis to the venue which then prepares and serves it along with the traditional “champit tatties” and “bashed neeps.” In layman’s terms, mashed potato and turnip. 

Chronicle.lu: How many people are expected to attend the celebration?

Margaret Ferns: We hope to have around 120 attendees.

Chronicle.lu: How can those interested in attending secure a place? Are places limited?

Margaret Ferns: Places are limited but there are a few remaining. Anyone interested should contact [email:] burnscommitteelux@gmail.com as quickly as possible.