Tartan, haggis, and bagpipes made for a colourful night in Humboldt.
Even in the middle of Saskatchewan, Scottish culture was widely celebrated at the second annual Robbie Burns night on Jan. 28.
The Humboldt Welsh, Irish, Scottish, England (CHECK) group came to fruition because of last year’s Robbie Burns night and it was their committee that organized it.
Organizers were very happy with the turn out of the second one, says organizer, Carol McLaren, who says the attendance surpassed that of last year’s.
Especially with so much going on that night, McLaren says she is very happy that so many people chose their celebration over all the other possible events.
Many people were involved in getting the night up and running, says McLaren, and everyone had their own job.
As is tradition, the haggis, made by Mary-Jane Gagnon, was piped in by piper, Lauchlan Maclean, and was toasted by Ken Macnaughton and Robbie Burn’s poem, Address to the Haggis.
“The haggis itself became a Scottish tradition because in Robert Burns’ days, the highlands were clearing out and there was not a lot of work in the cities, but Scottish men would not take charity from the churches,” said Macnaughton at last year’s Robbie Burns night, the first of its kind in Humboldt.
Macnaughton himself can trace his own proud Scottish ancestry back to 800 AD and was in full regalia as he addressed the haggis and toasted the piper.
The fact that Robbie Burns is celebrated internationally is something to be proud of and makes for an obvious reason to have such a night in Humboldt, says Macnaughton.
“January 25th is celebrated right around the world and that is why we promote it in the middle of Saskatchewan, to add an international flavour to a place like Humboldt.”
It does not matter if you are German, Japanese, or Filipino, says Macnaughton, they all celebrate Robbie Burns and that is the internationality of it.
Robbie Burns was readily quoted in song and verse at the event as Maxine Moore and Joan Jackson delighted the crowd with a selection of Robbie Burns songs and Stacey Bruce stepped up to discuss the legacy of Robbie Burns.
Maclean also invited his music students to partake in Robbie Burns music on the bagpipe and guitar.
Highland dance was also highlighted during the celebration as the Quill Lake Highland Dance Club was invited to give the crowd a taste of highland dance.
Dennis Spence gave the Toast to the Lassies, but only with the request that McLaren give the reply.
McLaren herself is Scottish as well as married to a man from Scotland.
A lot of people on the committee has ties to Scotland which made for a perfect time to celebrate Scottish culture.
