I'm thinking of having a Burns Supper in my home

[Planopiper]

I once piped for a Burns' supper that the Dallas Mensa club has every year. It's in someone's home. People were spread out through the house, so it was fairly informal, but it still had most of the Burn's Night components. They even had someone come in and do a whisky tasting. I was also at a real casual Burns' Night put on by a bunch of guys in Amarillo. They got the banquet hall of a resturant. I think they still managed to make it a pot luck. There was the toast to the Haggis, some piping. A lot of fun. I also play with the Fort Worth Scottish every year for a very formal Burn's night at a country club. You absolutley can have one at your house and definitly should invite any friends that will show up, but if it's a Burns' Night, then you really should focus on Burns. At least for the Address to the Haggis and one other poem. Otherwise it's not so much a Burns' Night as a get together. Even that, though, is something people don't do enough. Good luck. I hope you have a great evening with friends.

[Macman]

Alan, we have done a very similar thing to what you're suggesting for many years. While we don't have a formal Burns supper, we still celebrate the bard's day informally with close friends. Most of the people attending would not be interested in the "full meal deal", so we keep it an informal pot luck dinner. People usually wear something tartan and bring Scottish dishes and libations. We supply the home, the fireplace and the haggis. A fine time is had by all.

[Daneel]

I've done the Burns Night meal at home with the family with as many of the trimmings as possible. We had a ball. I love tradition but sometimes its not always possible for the likes of me to get a piper in full kit to play in my dining room.(I made do with some downloaded Glasgow Police Pipe Band) and I sadly could not rise to the accent when reading 'To The Haggis'. Have a look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/burnsnight. I used the links on this page to plan the night.