Burns Night’12 – TOP annual charity event of the chamber!

On Saturday, January 21st, the British Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania held its 13th Annual, Traditional Burns Night, Charity Event to celebrate the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns (1759 – 1796) and to raise funds for disabled and vision impaired children & youth sport clubs in Lithuania „Vilnis“, „Šarūnas“ and „MES“. Those 3 organisations have been chosen in association with 2012, the year of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In keeping with tradition, the 13th annual Burns Night  was held in Vilnius City Hall, located in the very heart of the magnificent old town. The event was attended by 240 guests from different countries including, naturally, Scotland, England and Lithuania. The charity raffle this year raised 20,000 litas (3.463 GBP), an absolutely record amount to be shared in equal parts by charity organizations as mentioned above.

Chris Butler, the chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce is pleased that Burns Night remains extremely popular in Vilnius and that guests are willing to support the Chambers’ annual fund-raising initiative:  “I am delighted that not only the Scottish gaiety, but also our national traditions are acceptable to guests, who attend Burns Night every year and willingly donate for the charities. This year Burns Night guests were extremely generous and helped us to raise a record amount since the year 2000, the days when this event was taking its first steps in this country”.

This year Guests at Burns Night were entertained by “The Midgies” ceilidh band making their debut in Lithuania. A day before, the first ever open public ceilidh dancing lesson was held at Panorama shopping centre and was met with great enthusiasm by local people and some of Burns Night guests.

Burns Night itself was celebrated in a true Scottish manner and had most of the essentials necessary for a successful event. The haggis was ceremonially piped in by Iain MacPhee accompanied by Gordon Ross and John MacGregor. “Address to a Haggis” was recited by Gordon Ross, the “Toast to the Lassies” and “Reply from the Lassies” were delivered also by Gordon Ross and Penny Miller. After Burns Supper, the guests were invited to enjoy ceilidh dancing led by “The Midgies”, which was a great success.

The chamber expresses its enormous gratitude to Burns Night’12!

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