Electric candles flickered on tables at the The Loft Saturday evening, as members of the Scottish Society and aficionados of Scottish culture gathered for the annual celebration of Burns Nicht.

Burns Nicht commemorates Robert Burns, the 18th-century poet regarded as the bard of Scotland. It is held each year on Jan. 25, his birthday. The anniversary has been honored on Martha’s Vineyard for 38 years, hosted by the Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard.

Haggis, a savory pudding made of lamb organs and barley, was the first dish of the night — avoided by some but devoured by many — at the 37th annual Burns Nicht celebration.

The Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard faced a dilemma in planning its 35th Burns Nicht supper this month: How to gather the clans without a gathering place?