The DEG Bayreuth hosted the traditional Burns Night on Saturday, 25.01.2025, an evening in honor of the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796). 40 guests accepted DEG’s invitation to the event, which transformed the Bürgerbegegnungsstätte into a stage for Scottish culture, music and cuisine. With this evening, the DEG not only wanted to honor Scottish traditions, but also to live up to its motto of strengthening the cultural connections between Bayreuth and the Anglophone world.
The evening followed the traditional Burns Night procedure, which has essentially not changed since the poet’s death in 1796. After the rousing bagpipe opening by Roland Jezussek, the guests were welcomed by DEG board members Sabine Greiner (chairwoman) and Susanne Haupenthal (deputy chairwoman) who were both particularly delighted by the attendance of many non-members and members alike.

The three-course meal began with the traditional Scottish soup “Cock-a-Leekie” before the most important part of the evening, the arrival of the haggis was happening. The haggis, accompanied by “Neeps and Tatties”, short for “Turnips and Potatoes”, was, according to tradition, Robert Burns’ favorite dish and is celebrated on “Burns Night” with the “Piping of the Haggis”. Bagpiper Jezussek solemnly accompanied the Burns’ favorite dish while Club member Hansjörg Fuchs, the evening’s master of ceremonies, recited the “Address to a Haggis”, a sort of love poem to Burns’ dish, followed by a symbolic cutting of the haggis, which was performed by DEG treasurer Andreas Haupenthal. A trio of Scottish desserts was followed by the traditional “Immortal Memory” speech in honor of the Scottish national poet by Sabine Greiner and the humorous “Toast to the Lassies”, complemented by a response from the ladies, performed by club members Doris and Josef Schmied.

For the numerous toasts of the evening, the glasses were filled by Sandra and Michael Röthlein from the Spirits Trail store in Creußen, who supplied the guests with various Scottish whiskies and also provided brief and entertaining information about each drink.