A celebration of a Scottish idol
On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Guelph Civic Museum transformed into Scotland to honour the wonderful Robbie Burns. Throughout his lifetime, Robbie Burns touched the hearts of many with his beautiful poetry that built a legacy so strong, that it has continued many generations after his passing. Fans young and old gathered at the museum for the opening dances at 1 p.m. and stayed right through to enjoy the festivities into the late afternoon.
In traditional Scottish kilts, the dancers took to stage first to welcome everyone to the day’s events. The young dancers, from the Mary Ellen Cann School of Highland Dance, left smiles on the crowds faces as they jumped rope to the comforting Scottish tunes that were played throughout the day.
Many different dances were done throughout the day to highlight this beautiful Scottish culture. One dance that left the crowd in awe was the Sword Dance, originally referred to as the dance of warriors, seen as a form of good luck if the sword is left untouched throughout the dance.
Not only did this day come with many smiles and warm moments, but it also brought new knowledge of the Scottish culture to the attendees of the event.
It was difficult not to be distracted by the redolence of haggis that filled the room as the dancers tapped their feet to the engaging music. While many were weary to try the sheep’s pudding that is famous in Scottish culture, the friendly faces serving the food made one willing to try it and left them satisfied that they had. Placing the haggis on crackers was a nice touch that also brought a familiarity to the taste buds.
It would not have been a celebration of Robbie Burns without the five senses being stimulated by the Scottish culture.
The sounds of bagpipes, presented by the Guelph Pipe Band, filled the entire Museum with the lively music of Scotland. One did not need to be Scottish to appreciate the wonders of this day. Instead, it was important to keep an open mind and a love for Robbie Burns, which was certainly shared by everyone in attendance.
Robbie Burns Day continues to be a celebrated tradition around the world and all fans enjoyed the exceptional food, quality of music, and sense of community in sharing a love for the same breathtaking poetry.