[Tartan Hiker]

No Burns Supers in the area. No haggis in the pantry. What to do?

We've decided to have our own wee celebration. Instead of a haggis we'll cook up a few links of boudin (a south Louisiana pork and rice sausage which looks a bit like a haggis and, at least historically, was no stranger to offal).

For the occasion I'm attempting to translate "Address to a haggis" into Cajun English, with the appropriate cultural modifications to the text. Slow going so far, and not sure if I'll actually be able to get the whole thing done by this evening. Dixie longnecks for appetizers, and some red wine from a friend in Houma, Louisiana will replace the scotch.

If only I had one of those full-mask gator sporrans!

How's that sound, Cajunscot?

[bikeolounger]

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

If only I had one of those full-mask gator sporrans!

CHOMP!

[McMurdo]

That sounds like a hoot, take lots of pics, and have a great night.

[auld argonian]

Excellent! Be sure to give us a writ down copy of the Ode...or better yet, get the video out and post it on Youtube.

Improvisation? I read something like this in a book once:

In the old days, the rabbi would go out to a secret place in the woods, light a fire and say a secret prayer.
Years went by and the ritual was passed down but along the way the words to the secret prayer were forgotten.
The new rabbi then went out to the secret place in the woods and lit the fire and said, "God, I've forgotten the words to the prayer but I have gone to the secret place in the woods and I have lit the fire...I hope that that's okay...".
Again, years went by and somehow the location of the secret place in the woods was forgotten.
The next new rabbi could do nothing but to light a fire. He said, "God, we've forgotten the words to the prayer and we've forgotten the location of the secret place...but I have lit the fire...I hope that that'll do...".
Once again years go by and, believe it or not, they manage to forget how to light the sacred fire.
So this rabbi has nothing to do but look up to heaven and say, "God, we forgot the words to the prayer, we can't find the secret place in the woods and we can't remember how to light the fire...but we remember the story."
And God was pleased because it was more important that they remember than that they carefully observe the ritual.

Enjoy!

Best

AA

[Tartan Hiker]

[cajunscot]

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

No Burns Supers in the area. No haggis in the pantry. What to do?

We've decided to have our own wee celebration. Instead of a haggis we'll cook up a few links of boudin (a south Louisiana pork and rice sausage which looks a bit like a haggis and, at least historically, was no stranger to offal).

For the occasion I'm attempting to translate "Address to a haggis" into Cajun English, with the appropriate cultural modifications to the text. Slow going so far, and not sure if I'll actually be able to get the whole thing done by this evening. Dixie longnecks for appetizers, and some red wine from a friend in Houma, Louisiana will replace the scotch.

If only I had one of those full-mask gator sporrans!

How's that sound, Cajunscot?

Oh, sounds great, Cher! Please send me a copy of your Cajun version of the Address to a Haggis; I'd love to show it to my mother-in-law Ms. Melancon.

Back in '01 she made Boudin Blanc as a "substitute" Haggis at our Burns Supper, since we couldn't find a local supplier then. Everyone loved it, and my good friend Alex, who was from Edinburgh (may he rest in peace) loved it, "although it was nae Haggis!"

One of my friends, who is a genuine Ozarks "hillbilly", wrote a Ozarks version of the Address called "Address to a Cornbread" -- I'll send it to you.

Cheers,

Todd

[kilted_brewer]

That sounds great. Just curious, having never been to a Burns Night event myself, but hoping to go yo one some year, what's the conventional wisdom about reciting Burns's poems? Does a non-Scot read it straight or attempt a Lowland Scots accent?

Does it depend on how late in the evening it is?

Can anyone share some resources of places to listen to some readings of Burns's poems?

[SFCRick]

Very good, have a great time

[Moosedog]

Yes, we are improvising as well. Tradition is great, but always fun to see how it evolves in the "new world."

Moosedog

[pipesndrumsnun]

Sounds fun, Tartan Hiker!
I'm improvising as well...having a coney for dinner (I mentioned the ingredients on the haggis thread!).