Wyoming Highlanders Celebrate Scottish Tradition with Burns Night Dinner
Last week, Scots and Scottish enthusiasts worldwide gathered in a festive display of tartans, bagpipes, and haggis to honor renowned poet Robert Burns on the 266th anniversary of his birth on January 25, Gillette News Record reports.
From Glasgow to Greenville, Shanghai to Chicago, and Cairo to Tokyo, events featured recitations of Burns’ iconic poem To a Haggis, celebrating the “chieftain o’ the puddin’ race.”
In Jackson, Wyoming, the recent Burns Night dinner hosted by the Wyoming Highlanders was a sold-out success, drawing 96 attendees. Emcee Scott Fossel led the evening by calling out the names of Scottish clans, to which proud descendants responded with their family mottos. As per tradition, a bagpiper accompanied the ceremonial procession of haggis, bringing a spirited authenticity to the gathering.
The event highlighted the historical ties between Scots and Wyoming. John Clay, a prominent figure in the state’s cattle industry, managed the Swan Land and Cattle Company after the harsh winter of 1886-87 and served as president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. Even John Colter, a legendary figure known for his 500-mile winter trek around Yellowstone in 1807, traced his roots to Scotland.
Scottish immigrants also played a key role in Wyoming’s early sheep industry, leveraging their expertise in animal husbandry before Basque shepherds became dominant in the region.
True to tradition, the evening concluded with a single-malt whisky toast and a heartfelt rendition of Auld Lang Syne, a classic song with lyrics penned by Burns. The Wyoming Highlanders’ Burns Night dinner served as a vibrant celebration of Scottish heritage and its enduring influence on the state.
