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Cornelius News

Auld Lang Syne: Poet will be remembered Jan. 19 at Rural Hill

Robert Burns

Dec. 27. It’s that time of year, when sentiments turn to old friends and “Auld Lang Syne,” written more than two centuries ago by Scottish poet Robert Burns.
The national poet of Scotland wrote any number of memorable lyrics and poems that are still part of our lexicon.

Here’s one: “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley.” We’ve modernized it, but he said it first.

Burns will be remembered at a traditional Scottish supper Jan. 19 at Historic Rural Hill, the 18th century plantation down Beattie’s Ford Road in Huntersville.

There will be a free pour of Scotch whiskey and live music, including a piper from the Loch Norman Pipe Band.

And there’s food. Cullen Skink, a soup made from smoked haddock, potatoes and onions, is on the menu as well as haggis and Dundee cake with a whiskey orange glaze.

Burns Night Suppers are held around the world to celebrate the life of the Romantic poet who died at age 37. The tradition started in July of 1801 when his friends met at his old home to celebrate the fifth year since his passing.

The event is a fundraiser for Historic Rural Hill and the Loch Norman Highland Games. Rural Hill was the family home of the Davidson family.

It starts with the Selkirk Grace crafted by Burns himself:

Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be Thankit!

More info: http://www.ruralhill.net/

Today Rural Hill is a 265 acre Mecklenburg County park containing a portion of the land once owned and farmed by six generations of the Davidson family. Abutting Rural Hill is the Cowan’s Ford Nature Preserve, a county park that was also part of the Davidson plantation.