The Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard would like to thank all those who helped to make our annual Robert Burns dinner such a success. We’d especially like to thank those who contributed to our scholarship fund auction and raffle.
The Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard would like to thank all those who helped to make our annual Robert Burns dinner such a success. We’d especially like to thank those who contributed to our scholarship fund auction and raffle.
The Ceilidh on Vineyard Avenue
In Scottish, it’s called a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee), which literally translates as a visit or gathering where friends and family share songs, stories and dance.
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the poet Robert Burns, the Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard will hold its annual Burns Nicht Supper on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Harbor View Hotel. Burns was a prolific writer of poems and songs, as well as a bon vivant of some repute in his native Scotland. Although he lived only 37 years, the so-called Bard of Ayreshire penned or adapted over one thousand songs and wrote uncounted poems, among them the well-beloved A Red Red Rose, and To A Mouse.
Philip Dietterich announced at the Tartan Day meeting held April 4 at the Old Whaling Church that President George Bush had on that day issued a proclamation regarding the observance of April 6 as National Tartan Day.
Although a Senate resolution had established April 6 as Tartan Day several years earlier, a Presidential proclamation is necessary in obtaining coverage of the observance in calendars around the country, such as that given each year in the Peter Simon calendar. It was also noted that the mother of James (Scotty) Reston was born in Scotland.
Scots around the world paid tribute to the birthday of the poet Robert Burns through dinners and toasts in what is widely known as the Burns Supper. Vineyard Scots and their friends had their own event Saturday night at the Oyster Bar and Grill on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs.
The evening of toasts, music and levity honored the significance of both the 249th birthday of the bard and the 21st anniversary of the Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard.
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.