Photo story by superfan, Shannon G. of Maple Ridge, BC.
Jenna and Theo were very honoured to be chosen to carry in the haggis at the traditional Scottish ceremony at the local Robbie Burns Dinner.
Haggis is the national dish of Scotland, although both Jenna and Theo have yet to acquire a taste for it. Haggis is a meat dish that includes liver, heart and lungs of a sheep, all minced and mixed with beef or mutton suet, spices and oatmeal. This meat pudding is then packed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled.
There it lay on the platter and Theo stood tall as he held it high above his head, and then proudly in front of him, and followed the bag piper to the head table at the Robbie Burns banquet.
Jenna followed behind with the sword.
It was set down on the table before them while the Address to the Haggis by Robbie Burns was recited. At just the right moment in the poem, the haggis was sliced open.
After the Scottish blessing was finished, Theo whispered to Jenna, " I think I’ll taste Haggis when I am a lot older."
"Me too", Jenna whispered back.
Later during the banquet, they entertained all by Jenna dancing the highland fling while Theo played the bagpipes.
Everyone responded with a loud round of applause for the two young performers!
I loved this story! I have Scottish ancestry, and have never tried Haggis. I’m with Jenna and Theo, I think I’ll wait to try Haggis when I’m older. Lol.