You can call him Robert, you can call him Robbie, or you can call him Rabbie. Whatever you call him, Mr. Burns was aptly celebrated at the Guelph Civic Museum on Sunday.
A fairly fluid crowd took in the annual celebration of the legendary Scottish bard’s life, works and general down-to-earthiness. Burn’s birthday is celebrated around the world at this time of year.
There was, of course, the impaling of the traditional haggis, which, once gutted was served up on crackers. There was marmalade for additional flavour – or as a masking agent - for those unaccustomed to flavour of haggis on its own.
There was plenty of dancing, too, with all types of Highland performances offered by the young dancers of the Mary Ellen Cann School of Highland Dance, each one all decked out in tartan skirts and fine vests. There were flings, sword dances and salutes, a Scottish lilt, a Flora MacDonald’s Fancy, and perhaps even a village maid. The appreciative applause made the dancers’ eyes widen with pride.
Scottish entertainer and storyteller going by the stage name of Seamus Gunn, donned a splendid blue bonnet, a dagger, kilt, and more finery besides, and told Scottish tales between dance and music portions of the day-long program.
With the stature of a Scottish warrior and a most splendid bushy beard, Seamus was quite the imposing figure.
Traditional Celtic museum has offered up by Eva McCauley, and Fair Wind and Friends, with a ceilidh rounding out the popular event.
