Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Burns Night, Scottish Thistles

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!

 This week includes January 25th, the birthday of Scotland's most famous author and poet Robert Burns, so I have a Scottish theme for my teacup. I think I have shared this Shelley Thistle design once before, but I love it is a favorite, it comes and goes in the shop,  and it's apropos as it is a national Scottish symbol, so....

This is a Shelley, England cup and saucer in the Thistle pattern and in the Cambridge shape made between 1955 and the closure of the pottery in 1966. Thistle and tartan are such quintessential Scottish themes, and Shelley paid homage to them with this pretty teacup!

Shelley was great at giving patterns and versions a number kept in pattern books. This is pattern number 13820. If you have the pattern books you can look it up and find out if any other info was given, which I really appreciate. 

Another item with a thistle design, I also have a Glamis Thistle teapot...another love...named for Glamis Castle, the birthplace in Scotland of Queen Elizabeth II's mother, Elizabeth the Queen Mother or Queen Mum as she was called.

The teapot is a large 4-6 cups, and was made by Springfield, England, one of the recent English potteries that have sprung up since the demise or consolidation of most of the big potteries who are household names, but not made in England anymore.

For more info on the Thistle teacup or teapot at Antiques And Teacups,  just click on the photos.

The Scottish Thistle seemed so appropriate with it being Robert Burns birthday. Burns was born in Ayrshire on January 25, 1759 and lived in the cottage below....which is a popular destination which we, of course, had to visit on one of our trips to Ireland. 

There are loads of souvenirs associated with him. Below is a tea towel I got at the Burns House ago honoring Robert Burns with one of my favorite quotes at the bottom...

The poem says:

Then let us pray that come what may

As come it will for a' that...

That man to man the world o'er,

Shall brothers be for a'that.

Robert Burns is revered as one of the most famous poets of all time, and certainly the most revered Scottish poet and song writer.  He is called one of the founders of the Romantic era and also as a social reformer. His works were both lyrical, romantic and full of social and political plain spoken opinions.  There are huge Scottish clubs and societies all over the world where this is celebrated, and everyone is asked to wear Tartan. An example of an invitation:

The evening will usually start with the singing or saying of what is called the Selkirk Grace:

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

Ans sae let the Lord be thankit.

A traditional Burns supper...or party...or tea, has several essential ingredients. Basically those are "neeps and tatties" or turnips and potatoes, a "wee dram" of whiskey....which is where some of the all male celebrations get a bit rowdy, and last but not least, Scotland's national dish...haggis! Haggis is a sheep's intestines stuffed with...okay, you don't want to know. I tried it, and DIDN'T like it! 

Part of the dinner is the Address To The Haggis after it is bagpiped into the room with much ceremony and toasting. As a way to celebrate Robert Burns birthday, Burns Night is celebrated in many places where whiskey flows and haggis is eaten and generally both the poet and Scots ancestry is celebrated...I have often thought it was maybe an excuse for the whiskey, but... 

The evening is of course ended with Robert Burns famous song For Auld Lang Syne, preferably to the sound of bagpipes.  Much fun and good food is enjoyed. Sometimes even Burns teas are given, by those not overly fond of the whiskey...that would include me!

I found this great website, http://www.bagpiper-online.co.uk/music.php where you can listen to bagpipe music. How cool is that!

So Happy Birthday to Robert Burns!

Below is the list of some of the blog parties I will be part of and there is the linky for your tea related posts...please remember that it is SSSLLLOOOOOOWWWW but if you are patient...it's there! And I love to read your comments, and can find you to visit!

No Place Like Home

 Tea Cup Tuesday 
 Bernideen’s Teatime, Cottage and Garden

An InLinkz Link-up