Society of Southern Scots & Sunbelt Scots Magazine
The Scots: Who Are They?
In The News
No, Sir Robert Burns
Planning a Burns’ Night
Remember National Tartan Day April 6th & Celebrate / Write About It
Great Scots/American –Jefferson
2002 Games Calendar
Thomas Muir: A Burns Tribute
The Highlands & Islands : Lucas
“Knighthoods can only be conferred by the monarch, or by other members of the Royal Family at her request and on her behalf,” replied Kirsty Nicol, public information service officer for the Scottish Parliament.
“At the time of Robert Burns, knighthoods were traditionally conferred for military merit, and as Robert Burns was not prominent in this field, he did not receive knighthood, and should never be referred to as ‘Sir Robert Burns.’
“It was only in the later parts of the twentieth century that knighthoods began to be used as a form of recognition for significant contributions to national life, and it became an acceptable practice to confer knighthoods upon recipients such as writers and poets.
“The process of creating a knight (investiture) is subject to strict protocols. The knight elect must be present and must kneel upon a special ‘knighting stool’ in front of the monarch or her Royal representative. For this, and for other reasons, a knighthood cannot be conferred upon someone who is no longer alive: it is not possible to be granted a ‘posthumous knighthood.’”
They can range from simple affairs, held in a house for a few friends or elaborate gatherings in a hotel. They should always be fun evenings and follow a similar structure.
A Burns supper encompasses the whole of life’s emotions in one evening. There is the serious thought-provoking speech (of course laced with humor), there is song, nostalgia, merriment, satire, wit, happiness and sadness all compressed into approximately two hours.
The following format is a guideline to such an evening.
1)Gathering, 2) Welcome-Grace-Meal, 3) After Soup- Parade of Haggis, 4) Address to the Haggis, 5) Remember three whiskies for Chairman, Reciter & Piper, 6) Interval 7) The Night’s Ongauns, 8) Introduce Top Table, 9) Company Sing-There was a Lad, 10) Immortal Memory, 11) Selection of Songs, Music and/or Poems, 12) Toast to the Lassies, 13) Reply on Behalf of the Lassies, 14) Vote of thanks, 15) Closing remarks from Chairman, 16) Auld Lang Syne.
National Tartan Day is an excellent way to keep our Scots ancestry alive and well. Several Games in the Sunbelt have scheduled their events around Tartan Day.
Arkansas is the latest state to get an executive decree from its governor to celebrate Tartan Day in the state, and also received a proclamation from the Governor to celebrate the entire month of April as Scottish Heritage Month. Good job by Barbara Brandon, Arkansas chairman for Tartan Day.
Wicker Clan Stands Out At World’s Largest Balloon Rally in New Mexico
Ralph L. Stevenson, Jr., represented Sunbelt Scots Magazine as its media correspondent for the “World’s Largest Balloon Rally,” in Albuquerque, NM in October.
“This year another historic event occurred at the balloon gathering,” Stevenson reports. “The Wicker Clan, the first kilted balloon team, entered the festival.”
The event garnered a lot of support for Tartan Day. Information packets on Tartan Day were passed out to the media.
“The Wicker Clan became one of the most photographed teams during the fiesta,” Stevenson said. (See Photo of Wicker Clan, Page 30).
2nd Annual Society of Southern Scots & Southern Heritage Conference Is April 5th
The 2nd annual Society of Southern Scots & Southern Heritage Conference will gather April 5th at Old York Farms in Oakman, AL.
The one-day conference will be held in conjunction with the Walker Celtic Festival. Featured speakers, entertainment, food and vendors will top the slate.
Red McWilliams will be one of the many entertainers at the event. (See Ad, Page 10).
The Society of Southern Scots is preparing a special commemorative program for the 2nd annual Society of Southern Scots & Southern Heritage Conference.
Ads in memory of that Confederate Solider, Scots or Scots/Irish ancestors will be accepted. You can come free if…
Full Page Ad & Bring 3 guests -- $100
½ Page Ad & Bring 1 guest -- 50
¼ Page Ad & Bring Self -- 25
Deadline is February 15th to get ad copy.
Send to Creative Services Inc., 12208 Mt. Olive Road, Coker, AL 35452
