The latest Tattoo news
Hello! Have a look through our archives to find out a bit more about Us and the Tattoo.
Hello! Have a look through our archives to find out a bit more about Us and the Tattoo.
Burns night celebrates the life and works of Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard. Burns suppers, held across the country on 25th January, are fun evenings full of traditions, delicious food, whisky, poetry, and music. Read on if you would like to learn more about Scotland’s National Poet, Burns Supper and how to celebrate Burns Night in 2021.
Robert Burns
Robert, or Rabbie, Burns, lived in the 2nd half of the 18th century and is the most famous Scottish poet who wrote in the Scots language (as well as English). His iconic works, that focus on the themes of nature, love and family, made a lasting mark on Scottish literature and culture in general. A BBC article explains that Burns’ work remains popular today due to “the themes and language of everyday life that he used. His poems were humorous and he used small subjects to express big ideas.”[1] The legacy continues to live on as we celebrate the birthday of Scotland’s national poet by hosting Burns suppers.
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/why-is-robert-burns-work-still-so-popular-today/zky747h
Burns Supper
Burns supper can be held as a larger event, as well as a more intimate version for family and friends at your home. There are some key elements that are always followed. The traditional meal would consist of a cock-a-leekie soup, haggis, neeps and tatties, and a cranachan for a dessert. The evening starts off by piping in the guests (at large gatherings) but if you do not have a piper at hand, some traditional music will do. The host welcomes all the guests, and a prayer (The Selkirk Grace) is said so that the meal can begin. The attention then turns to the most important part of the meal, the HAGGIS. At larger events, the haggis is piped in as it is brought to the table, but at home the focus is on the address to the haggis performed by the host (full poem ‘Address to a Haggis’ can be found here), who then invites everyone to raise their glass and toast to the haggis. The evening then continues with a couple of rounds of recitals of some of Burns’ most famous works, all the while enjoying our national drink, Scotch whisky. It is also common to sing Auld Lang Syne at the end while standing up and holding hands.
Burns Night in 2021
Even though the situation does not allow for in-person gatherings this year, there are many digital initiatives taking place over the coming weekend and Monday that will help you celebrate the occasion in style:
Let us know if you plan to celebrate Burns night at home this year, and if you plan to join in one of the digital events – we would love to hear about it in the comments!
Edinburgh is set to be one of the most popular UK staycation destinations of summer 2021. If you are making plans to visit Edinburgh with your family in August 2021 and take in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, we hope you will find this blog useful. We discuss our bespoke 2021 Tattoo packages and why they are perfect for a family getaway, as well as our tips on the activities you can do whilst visiting the Scotland’s capital.
Self-catering Apartment in the heart of the city
As part of our bespoke packages, we can offer a self-catering accommodation option in one of our apartments. There is a range of different sized apartments available and we will find
the most suitable option depending on the size of your group and the length of your stay. For the most central option, we recommend our apartments on York Place – modern and spacious apartments located in a renovated Georgian town house, only a short walk away from George Street, Princes Street and the Waverly train station. The rooms provide comfort to each family member and the living / kitchen areas are great for enjoying a home-cooked breakfast and spending some quality time as a family.
Guaranteed Official Tattoo Tickets
As an official travel trade partner of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, we get a guaranteed allocation of Official tickets for all the performances in different sections. Our packages include entry level tickets or two different ticket upgrades. If you are looking to make your Edinburgh visit a little more special, we can include a hospitality ticket option as an addition to your package – we would be happy to discuss the different upgraded seating options and the great range of dining packages on offer.
Family Fun in Edinburgh
Edinburgh loves to welcome adults and children alike and there many fun activities both indoors and outdoors. We have chosen just a few of the amazing family-friendly activities the capital offers:
Visiting the Zoo makes for a lovely day out. Even though slightly further out of Edinburgh’s city centre, the Zoo is easily accessible using Lothian Buses service 12,26 and 31. If you are staying at our apartments on York Place, you can catch the number 26 and arrive at the zoo in under half an hour (traffic dependent!). Get a chance to see over 1000 animals and learn more about the animal world by attending some of the amazing activities such as keeper talks, feed of the day or the famous penguin parade. For the most up-to-date information and to book your tickets in advance please click here.
The National Museum is a perfect place for the whole family – you can discover anything from the natural world, Scottish history, science and technology, as well as art and design. You can explore the different galleries in your preferred order, or you could try one of the special trails created by the museum to help you guide you through the exhibitions. For more details on the museum trails click here. We also recommend checking the official website before your visit for any special activities, or events, taking place.
If you are a little short on time, the hop-on/off bus tours are an excellent way to see the highlights of the city while also learning some history along the way. Edinburgh Sightseeing Tour is a great option for the wee ones as it also includes special Horrible Histories commentary narrated by Terry Deary. The tour has a stop at both the National Museum and the Dynamic Earth so you can easily visit both attractions in one day. For more information, please click here.
If you prefer a hotel accommodation (with breakfast included) for your family stay – this is also an option and we can discuss the different family room, connecting room, or triple room options with you.
By choosing to buy a package with Glory Days, your accommodation and tickets are all sorted hassle-free and we take care of the package delivery as well – all that is left is to put your travel dates in your calendar and have something nice to look forward to in 2021!
If you need help with organizing your Edinburgh stay please contact our friendly team on 0131 556 3840 or info@glorydays.uk.com
Edinburgh has been voted the best city in the UK by a top travel magazine and we believe it is a perfect staycation destination – a city break combined with a visit to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
2020 will be remembered as a challenging year that has forced many of us to change the ways we go about our lives. It has also changed the way we travel and spend our holidays. Even though we may not be able to travel to our favourite places now we can start planning for the long term and have something to look forward to in the summer 2021. Scotland ranks as one of the most popular destinations for domestic holidays for UK travellers. This trend is thought to continue well into 2021. Most Scottish residents already spend their domestic holidays in Scotland but a boom in staycations in Scotland is expected throughout 2021 as international travel may not have enough time to recover fully.
Edinburgh Attractions
Edinburgh is great for a short city break, as well as a perfect starting point for a longer Scotland itinerary. You will be taken back in time with a walk in Edinburgh’s Old Town, exploring hidden closes and cobbled alleyways. The city also boasts many gardens, parks, walking paths, and several viewpoints that offer stunning views of the city – such as Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill to name just a few. Finally, Edinburgh is also a world leading festival city and the home of world-class events and performances. In 2020 the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo would have marked its 70th anniversary – although we were all sad the event could not take place this year, the organizers have staged a special ‘socially distanced’ performance to mark what would have been the 2020 finale – the video can be found here https://www.edintattoo.co.uk/news/presenting-the-2020-tattoo-finale
Accommodation & Ticket Packages for 2021
We are delighted to see the Tattoo is now back on schedule for next year – it will take place from 6th until 28th August 2021. As part of our packages, we offer a minimum of 2 nights accommodation in the city centre and official tickets as standard. The packages can be tailored to the type and length of your holiday and can include a range of attractions, such as the Scotch Whisky Experience, Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Yacht Britannia and many more. Are you looking to explore Scotland a little more but are short on time? No problem, we can include a suitable day (or half day) tour, offered by our trusted partners, that will cover the most popular points of interest. If you have a little extra time and prefer to explore at your own pace – we will create a bespoke self-drive itinerary that can be linked with your Edinburgh stay and a visit to the Edinburgh Tattoo.
Our standard Tattoo packages can now be booked online here.
Your package can be booked for as little as £75 per person and as part of our covid-19 policy, we will refund all monies due if the event is fully cancelled.
If you need help with organizing your Edinburgh stay, or have any specific requirements you would like to discuss with us, please contact our friendly team on 0131 556 3840 or info@glorydays.uk.com
*Images were taken by the Glory Days team
18 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1JX
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