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News
 Don't forget that Valentine's Day is fast approaching and Celtic jewellery makes the perfect gift! We have a wide range of jewellery available. Order soon to ensure delivery in time. We also have some great Celtic pendants in stock for fast delivery. We are offering Highland Games Sponsorships this year including Trophies and Gift Certificates. Contact us for more details or find the sponsorship request form on our Events Page.
Information regarding the 11th Annual Lake Diefenbaker Pipe Band School is now posted including brochures and application forms.
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Scottish Humor
Boris Johnson is being shown around a London hospital. Towards the end of the visit, he is shown into a ward with a number people with no obvious signs of injury or disease.
He goes to greet the first patient and the chap replies: "Fair fa' your honest sonsie face, Great chieftain e' the puddin' race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm; Weel are ye wordy o' a grace as lang's my arm."
Boris, being somewhat confused goes to the next patient and greets him. The patient replies: "Some hae meat, and canna eat, and some wad eat that want it, but we hae meat and can eat, and sae the Lord be thankit."
The third starts rattling off: "Wee sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie, O, what a panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, wi bickering brattle! I wad be laith to rin an chase thee, wi murdering pattle!"
Boris turns to the doctor and asks: "Is this the mental ward?"
"No" the doctor replies, "It's the Burns unit."
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Featured Article
Happy Burns Day!
Robbie Burns, known as Scotland's Favorite Son, the Ploughman Poet, and the Bard, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. Some of his most well known works include Auld Lang Syne, Scots Wha Hae, A Red Red Rose, To a Mouse, and many more.
Robbie was born Jan 25, 1759, in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland. He was the oldest of 7 children in a farming family. Although he received little regular schooling, Burns was taught by his father.
His first poem was inspired by a girl who assisted him during the harvest. He later wrote songs and poems about several women who crossed his path.
Burns formed Tarbolton Bachelor's Club. He became a Freemason at Lodge St. David. Through his life he would attend several lodge meetings all over Scotland.
Burns was known for his casual love affairs. He had his first illegitimate child with his mother's servant. His relationship with Jean Armour, who he later married, resulted in 9 children, but only 3 lived past infancy. He had an affair with Mary Campbell, and planned to emigrate to Jamaica together, but Mary died of fever. Some speculate that her death was due to childbirth complications. In total, Burns was known to father 13 children.
The first collection of his verse was Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (known as the Kilmarnock Edition). He was invited to Edinburgh to oversee a revised edition. Here he made a lasting impression on several people and gained great admiration. Constant themes in his works include republicanism, patriotism, class inequalities, gender roles, and benefits of socializing.
He met James Johnson who had a love of old Scots songs and wanted to preserve them. Burns agreed to help him and contributed about 200 songs to the Scots Musical Museum collection.
Burns, aging prematurely, died on July 21, 1796 at the age of 37. His son Maxwell was born on the day of his funeral. A memorial edition of his poems was published to raise money for his family.
Burns Nights are celebrated each year on January 25th around the world. So raise up your glasses, enjoy your haggis, and cheers to Robbie Burns!
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