On January 25th, 2014, the 255th anniversary of Robbie Burns in Scotland, 116 people gathered at The Stables on the grounds of the Estoi Palace Pousada to take a cup of auld lang syne in honour of Scotland's national poet, and to do a little fundraising.
Organized by Scottish expat members of the Rotary Club Estoi Palace International, the evening followed traditional lines. First there was the ceremonial piping in of the haggis (a large sausage stuffed with offal, oatmeal, suet, onion and spices). Then a hush fell for the “Address to the Haggis”, a poem Burns penned in praise of the “great chieftain o’ the puddin’-race" in 1786. This was followed by the Selkirk Grace, a short grace attributed to Burns: Some have meat and cannot eat, Some cannot eat that want it; But we have meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit.
After a main course of roast beef, and a lovely simple pudding we heard the Toast to the Lassies and the Reply to the Laddies. This was followed by some lively Scottish country dancing.
Burns didn’t live a long life; he died at the age of 37, leaving behind a wife, numerous distraught lovers and 12 children. His greatest legacy was his poetry which included hundreds of works in both English and Scots, which are still popular hundreds of years later.
The enjoyable evening raised over €1,500 which RCEPI has earmarked to assist the Algarve Oncology Association.
