The memory of Scottish poet Robert Burns was raised for the 12th time this year when ex-pats and locals gathered for Burns Night on January 30. The annual event is organised by the Burns Committee and the British Embassy Yerevan.

Each year since 1999, sometime near the poet’s birthday, January 25, Armenia Marriott Hotel hosts a night of ceremony, charity, and traditional haggis. And as every year, haggis (a spicy meal made from sheep and cow organs and cooked in a sheep stomach) is brought to Armenia from Scotland by true Scots and handed to the UK Ambassador during a ceremony at Zvartnots Temple.

John Davidson, the butcher, travels to Armenia particularly for Burns Night for the third time with Tommy Elder, who brought with him a 100 year old set of pipes that he played at Burns Night. They were hosted by a morning programme on a local TV-channel. Their arrival at the TV station in kilts was itself a memorable event for the TV crew.

John Davidson said he finds many similarities between Armenians and Scots. “We look forward to coming here every year. Armenian people are very kind and friendly, just like in Scotland".

Burns event is not just a party. It is also about raising funds for charitable projects. Since the first Armenian Burns Supper, proceeds have been spent on such projects that this year include opening a “Burns Centre” at the Zatik Orphanage. The centre will help orphans by providing them with computer access and language teaching with the assistance of the Armenian British Connect organisation.

Over the years Burns charity helped provide neo-natal equipment for a number of provincial hospitals, assistance to various orphanages, help for the partially sighted and a for a sheep-breeding improvement programme.

Charles Masraff, the Burns Committee President, says this year’s supper raised more than $20,000 for charity. The Committee will meet to discuss what projects to support with these funds.