Haggis

Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish. It is made with various ingredients including the sheep’s liver, heart and lungs, seasoned, and mixed with oats, a cereal which Dr Johnson memorably described in his Dictionary as "a grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people." The ingredients are cooked for about an hour in the sheep's stomach. Portions of haggis are also frequently coated in batter, deep fried and served at chip shops.

Scots like to tease tourists with the suggestion that a haggis is a small Scottish animal whose unique feature is having two legs shorter on one side of their body so that they can run round mountains. Unfortunately, the male and female haggises have the shorter legs in opposite sides so they go round in opposite directions. However, this is completely untrue.

The haggis has become an exalted component of Burns Night, where gastronomic banquets (known as Burns' Suppers) are held in honor of Scotland's national poet's birthday (January 25). The highlight of the evening is usually a recitation of the poem Address to a Haggis. Slices of haggis are then consumed, accompanied by mashed potato and mashed swede (turnips or "neeps") and glasses of whisky.

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