Annual SASVT Activities
Prior to COVID the St. Andrew’s Society of Vermont regularly hosted numerous annual events to include an Annual Meeting, “Burns Nicht” to remember and memorialize Scotland’s poet laureate, Kirkin O’ the Tartans, a non-denominal church service and potluck, and the Tartan Ball with Highland dancing, piping and dinner complete with haggis, among other social gatherings.
SASVT also helps to sponsor Scottish festivals such as the Quechee Games and the New Hampshire Highland Games.
SASVT is interested in collaborating with other like-minded Scottish organizations to promote Scottish traditions, culture, and heritage.
Burns Nicht
Starting in January, SASVT hosts a “Burns Nicht” in honor of “Rabbie” Burns, Scotland’s poet laureate. The evening is filled with song, poetry readings from Burn’s works, music, dancing, toasts, and good food and drink. The highlight of the evening is the piping in of the haggis and Burn’s immortal “Ode to a Haggis”.
Kirkin O' The Tartans
In July, the Society typically sponsors a church service open to all and held at the old Scottish Covenanter’s Church, the Reformed Covenanter Walter Harvey Meeting House, in Barnet, Vermont. The worship service is in the Covenanter tradition which used the metrical version of the Psalms, sung exclusively without musical accompaniment, followed by a blessing of the tartans, and often a potluck outdoor lunch follows.
This year the Kirkin O’ the Tartans will take place on Sunday, September 17, 2023 from 11am to 12 pm at the old Covenanter Church at 685 Misquitoville Road on the townlines of Barnet and Ryegate on the historic Bayley Hazen Military Road.
The celebration will be hosted by the Barnet and Ryegate Churches.
A luncheon is not planned for this year but you are welcome to picnic on the grounds.
Be sure to wear your plaids.
All are welcome to attend this service!
