The song customarily sung on New Year’s Eve begins with the lines, “Should auld acquaintance be forgot,” but what comes after this line isn’t often remembered, and who wrote the poem is rarely brought to mind.
Robert Burns, the man behind this poem, isn’t forgotten by some people.
In fact, he is honored every year around his birthday by Burns Suppers held around the world.
A man known for writing poems in the Scottish dialect, Burns is seen as somewhat of a representative of the people.
The Kern County Scottish Society honored his life Saturday, Jan. 26 by holding a Burns Supper at Hodel’s Restaurant.
The event included a silent raffle, music by Banshee in the Kitchen, the piping in of the haggis and a special unveiling.
Haggis, a Scottish dish which is traditionally made with sheep’s stomach, is a symbol of Scotland and is honored at Burns Suppers through the recitation of “Address to a Haggis,” a poem written by Burns, which was recited by Carl Guilford of the Society.
A past performance of this can be seen on YouTube by searching for Kern Scot.
This occasion, the 37th of its kind held by the Kern County Scottish Society, was unique this year because of a surprise unveiling of a portrait of Burns made by a local artist.
According to Jennifer Scott, a Board Member for the Kern County Scottish Society, Eleanor Clark started the building fund to get a Scottish Society hall.
Last year, she suffered a stroke and in appreciation for all the things she’s done for the Society, Patti Doolittle was commissioned to paint her portrait.
According to Scott, Clark’s portrait will be featured on the cover of the program for this year’s Scottish Gathering and Games, an annual event hosted by the Kern County Scottish Society.
And how exactly would Burns feel about all of this attention?
According to Holly Davisson of the Kern County Scottish Society, “He’d feel honored, then he’d be like, ‘Where’s the Scotch? Gimme some Scotch.'”