Geography and typology of contemporary Burns Suppers

Malgrati, P. (2021) Geography and typology of contemporary Burns Suppers. Burns Chronicle, 130(2), pp. 127-148. (doi: 10.3366/burns.2021.0020)

Abstract

This piece features an unprecedented, quantitative analysis of contemporary Burns Suppers. It is based on the broadest, most detailed database of Burns Suppers ever built since the nineteenth century, comprising more than 2,500 contemporary events across 145 countries. Such a wealth of data lends itself to a survey of Burns Night's various settings, comparing diverse approaches to Burns's poetry, Scottish culture, music, and food. Indeed, at the heart of this article lies a typology of Burns Suppers, distinguishing four main types of events – ‘ritualistic’, ‘Celtic’, ‘gastronomic’, and ‘social’. Challenging common perceptions of the Burns Supper as a traditionalist, ceremonious feast, these categories provide an initial blueprint for any further study of Burns Suppers in the twenty first century.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Robert Burns, Burns Supper, Scottish identity, Scottish diaspora, haggis, quantitative analysis.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Malgrati, Dr Paul
• Authors: Malgrati, P.
• Subjects: D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain; P Language and Literature > PE English; P Language and Literature > PR English literature
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Scottish Literature
• Journal Name: Burns Chronicle
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• ISSN: 1365-7518
• ISSN (Online): 2634-7059
• Published Online: 15 September 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Edinburgh University Press
• First Published: First published in Burns Chronicle 130(2):127-148
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher