Robbie Burns known as The Bard, was a Scottish poet and lyricist who lived from 1759 to 1796. His works became very popular and in 2009 he was chosen as the greatest Scot by the Scottish public by a Scottish television channel.
His legacy is far-reaching and every year, on Jan. 25, his birthday, people come together to celebrate him.
The third annual event celebrating Robbie Burns in Alameda was held on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Legion where many individuals stopped by to enjoy a traditional Scottish evening.
“Regan [Miller] started the evening, he likes to play the pipes, and it’s a good excuse to play the pipes,” Dan Staples, one of the organizers, laughed.
Miller added, “The lodge needed something to raise funds and support, and this was something we could do for the community.”
“We raise money and mostly do quiet philanthropic works,” Staples explained of the Aba Lodge #15, a Free Masons group that meets in Oxbow which was recently created in the amalgamation of two lodges in the area: Border Amiti Lodge and Boscurvis-Alameda Lodge.
With people attending from Weyburn, Regina, Yorkton, and more, it was a night filled with fellowship and entertainment, and of course, haggis.
Rolland Bouchard, Master of Ceremonies for the evening, explained, “In 1802 a group of his [Burns’] buddies celebrated him after he died and the night kind of just continued on. Now there’s numerous events held around the world and they all actually follow the same program; so, it’s kind of the same night wherever you go.”
In addition to the exceptional meal catered by the Legion, there were traditional toasts and entertainment as well. Art Wallace gave the “Toast to Robbie Burns,” Ken Morgan kindly spoke a “Toast to the Lassies,” while Jenn Sedor’s “Toast to the Laddies” was quite funny and written true to Burns’ memory with a poem.
Three Highland Dancers from Drewitcz School of Dance in Estevan were also present to showcase their skills. They performed two numbers for those attending.
They were followed by Emily Dubois on fiddle accompanied by her father Ben Dubois on guitar. After a couple of songs, there was a short lull between the start of the next one, with shouts from the crowd saying the pair should keep playing. They did and were able to draw a standing ovation from the crowd who thoroughly enjoyed the Scottish jigs and reels the Dubois’ performed.
A poetry reading followed the Dubois’ by Troy LeBlanc. Then came the talents of Miller on the bagpipes in a piping medley. A very Scottish instrument, Miller impressed the crowd with his talents.
The evening came to a close with the gathered the crowd singing one of Burns’ works, “Auld Lang Syne,” known in the English vernacular as “Times Long Gone.”
Why is Burns’ birthday celebrated over 200 years later? Not only does it give people a reason to celebrate Scottish traditions, but Burns is considered to have been somewhat of a revolutionary in his time. Writing about republicanism, radicalism, Scottish patriotism, anticlericalism, class inequalities, gender roles, Scottish identity, and poverty, his views were contrary to the government and popular views of those in power at the time. His themes were vast, his works very well written and received, and his style using Classical, Biblical, and English literature, while mixing in Scottish Makar tradition was enjoyed by the masses.
