聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Robbie Burns known as The Bard, was a Scottish poet and lyricist who lived from 1759 to 1796. His works became very popular and in 2009 he was chosen as the greatest Scot by the Scottish public by a Scottish television channel.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 His legacy is far-reaching and every year, on Jan. 25, his birthday, people come together to celebrate him.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The third annual event celebrating Robbie Burns in Alameda was held on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Legion where many individuals stopped by to enjoy a traditional Scottish evening.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淩egan [Miller] started the evening, he likes to play the pipes, and it鈥檚 a good excuse to play the pipes,鈥� Dan Staples, one of the organizers, laughed.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Miller added, 鈥淭he lodge needed something to raise funds and support, and this was something we could do for the community.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e raise money and mostly do quiet philanthropic works,鈥� Staples explained of the Aba Lodge #15, a Free Masons group that meets in Oxbow which was recently created in the amalgamation of two lodges in the area: Border Amiti Lodge and Boscurvis-Alameda Lodge.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With people attending from Weyburn, Regina, Yorkton, and more, it was a night filled with fellowship and entertainment, and of course, haggis.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Rolland Bouchard, Master of Ceremonies for the evening, explained, 鈥淚n 1802 a group of his [Burns鈥橾 buddies celebrated him after he died and the night kind of just continued on. Now there鈥檚 numerous events held around the world and they all actually follow the same program; so, it鈥檚 kind of the same night wherever you go.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In addition to the exceptional meal catered by the Legion, there were traditional toasts and entertainment as well. Art Wallace gave the 鈥淭oast to Robbie Burns,鈥� Ken Morgan kindly spoke a 鈥淭oast to the Lassies,鈥� while Jenn Sedor鈥檚 鈥淭oast to the Laddies鈥� was quite funny and written true to Burns鈥� memory with a poem.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Three Highland Dancers from Drewitcz School of Dance in Estevan were also present to showcase their skills. They performed two numbers for those attending.聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 They were followed by Emily Dubois on fiddle accompanied by her father Ben Dubois on guitar. After a couple of songs, there was a short lull between the start of the next one, with shouts from the crowd saying the pair should keep playing. They did and were able to draw a standing ovation from the crowd who thoroughly enjoyed the Scottish jigs and reels the Dubois鈥� performed.聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A poetry reading followed the Dubois鈥� by Troy LeBlanc. Then came the talents of Miller on the bagpipes in a piping medley. A very Scottish instrument, Miller impressed the crowd with his talents.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The evening came to a close with the gathered the crowd singing one of Burns鈥� works, 鈥淎uld Lang Syne,鈥� known in the English vernacular as 鈥淭imes Long Gone.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Why is Burns鈥� birthday celebrated over 200 years later? Not only does it give people a reason to celebrate Scottish traditions, but Burns is considered to have been somewhat of a revolutionary in his time. Writing about republicanism, radicalism, Scottish patriotism, anticlericalism, class inequalities, gender roles, Scottish identity, and poverty, his views were contrary to the government and popular views of those in power at the time. His themes were vast, his works very well written and received, and his style using Classical, Biblical, and English literature, while mixing in Scottish Makar tradition was enjoyed by the masses.
