By Jaimie Julia Winters
In Kearny, some say Robbie Burns Day—celebrated each year on Jan. 25—is even bigger than St. Patrick’s Day. Also known as Burns Night, the event honors the life and poetry of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, who was born in 1759. The celebration holds special meaning in Kearny, where, at one time, more than half of the town’s population was of Scottish descent.
Burns Night began on the fifth anniversary of Burns’ death, when close friends gathered to honor his memory. Today, the tradition lives on through food, poetry, music, and ceremony.
At Stewart’s Market, Aleska Teixeira is busy taking orders for haggis, a traditional Scottish savory pudding made with lamb kidneys, liver, and heart, and a centerpiece of the Burns Night feast. The market was opened by her grandparents two years after they arrived from Scotland in 1931. Inside, the family crest and Scottish flag hang on the walls, alongside a portrait of Burns, whose poem “Address to a Haggis” helped make the dish famous.
At a traditional Burns supper, guests rise as the haggis is carried in on a silver salver, often led by a bagpiper. The host or a guest then recites Burns’ poem, slicing into the haggis at the precise moment with a ceremonial knife. Celebrations typically feature bagpipers, Highland dancers, the presentation of the haggis, and, of course, plenty of whisky toasts.
Those looking to celebrate locally can attend events hosted by the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington on Jan. 18 and the Scots American Club on Jan. 23.
It’s the first Burns Night hosted by the Presbyterian Church, church administrator Pat Horvath said.
“We have some members who are Scottish, and suggested we host one at the church,” Horvath said.
In years past, The Thistle Fish and Chips, originally located in Kearny and currently in Lyndhurst, hosted the event. The restaurant will still provide the haggis, fried chicken, and fish and chips. Ode to haggis will be recited, and entertainment will include Highland dancers and Pipe Major Joseph P. McGonigal and the St. Columcille School Pipe Corp. Tickets, $25 for adults, $12 for children, can be purchased at the church or the Thustle Restaurant.
Founded in 1931, the Scots American Club has been celebrating Burns Night for decades. The club will serve a buffet dinner with haggis, meat pies, fish and chips, Guinness on tap, and whiskies. Bagpipers, Highland dancers, ceilidh dancing, and Burns poetry will highlight the evening. Kilts are encouraged but not required. Call 973-820-6965 or email scotsamer1@verizon.net for tickets. Tickets are $60, $20 for children.
The Scots American Club was often one of the first stops for immigrants arriving from Scotland, according to club president Andrew Pollock. The organization was formed to foster social connections as well as athletic programs within the community.
Burns, the renowned 18th-century poet, wrote hundreds of poems and songs still widely known today, including “Auld Lang Syne” and “My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose.”
Scots began settling in Kearny in the late 19th century, drawn by industrial opportunities. The Clark Thread Company of Scotland opened mills in 1875 and again in 1890, followed by Nairn Linoleum, which built a factory along the Passaic River in 1887. According to the township’s history, these mills attracted thousands of Scottish immigrants. The Clark Thread Company also established the area’s first official soccer league, allowing workers to play and watch the sport they loved from home.
Some say Kearny’s Scottish roots run even deeper, tracing back to one of its founding families—the Caldwells of Scotland.
While Kearny does not have a statue of Burns—one of 16 erected across the United States, including one placed in Central Park in 1880—it does have a cairn. Located along the river in Wallace Glen, the stone monument honors the contributions of the Scots who settled in Kearny, once known as “Little Scotland.”