ESTEVAN - Hundreds of people gathered at the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion on Saturday night for the annual Burns Night celebrations.
The annual tribute of Scottish culture, organized by the Estevan Piping and Drumming School, featured many of the attributes found in a Burns night celebration.
The haggis was piped in. The Scottish dish, scotch, quatch and swords were carried through the crowd. Charlie Pyra delivered the address to the haggis.
Supper was prepared by the legion, and the haggis was courtesy of the families of the young Estevan pipers and drummers.
Dyana Drummelsmith read this year's tribute to Burns. She reminded the crowd that the night is a celebration of the life and poetry of Burns, who became Scotland's national poet. The event is observed on or around Jan. 25, which was Burns' birthday, and Dummelsmith noted it is marked by traditional Scottish customs, poetry recitations, music and a special meal.
She told the crowd Burns was the eldest son of tenant farmer William Burnes, who was a tenant farmer, and Agnes Broun, a spinner and singer of old Scottish songs. At age 15, he started putting pen to paper.
Jean Armour was a strong and patient woman who became his favourite and long-term partner, and eventually his wife, but not until he had relationships with many other women.
Through a connection in his Masonic Lodge, his first book of poetry, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, was published in 1786 when he was 27.
"His language was earthy, and images real and gritty," Drummelsmith said. "While political hypocrisy and the pompous were often his target, he wrote of love, heartbreak and philosophy."
He was not just Scotland's bard, he was also a sharp observer of the world around him, she told the crowd, as seen in his poems about Mauchline and its residents.
"Burns' sharp wit could be both a blessing and a curse," said Drummelsmith. "For those he satirized, the poems must have been uncomfortable reading. For others, his humour and insight made him a beloved figure."
Meanwhile, 1785's To a Louse showcases his humour, she said. .
"It becomes clear this is a satirical nod to the importance of self-awareness and humility; even the well-to-do are not beyond a louse and they'd do well to remember it."
For those who met Burns, Drummelsmith said it was an extraordinary experience; he had an incredible presence. He had such charisma that men and women were totally charmed.
"Within three months of his poems being published, he was the talk of Edinburgh society as a literary and social phenomenon," Drummelsmith said.
Now viewed as ahead of his time, Drummelsmith said Burns saw humanity in everyone from every walk. Burns was a libertarian who advocated freedom of choice, and an equalitarian who had a deep love of people.
"His work is his commentary of his era and his short but jam-packed life. He talks with pride of the everyday struggles of the working class, of which he remained despite the deity of being declared and published in his own lifetime as 'Scotland's bard.'"
In 10 years of publishing, Burns created over 500 poems and songs.
"Without his works, much of the lowland Scotch dialect would have been lost. He penned many tunes that were only passed down verbally, like Auld Lang Sang."
Burns died in 1796 from rheumatic fever at the age of 37.
After Drummelsmith's speech wrapped up, the tables were cleared and the music began. The Kilted Wind Pipe Band performed 15 songs, and they were joined for several selections by the Drewitz School of Dance.
