Human Flower Project

Thursday, January 26, 2006

A Run on Thistles

To meet the huge demand on Burns Night, Scottish florists placed their orders for the national sticker in Zimbabwe.

Thistle in May, suburban Glasgow

Photo: Rampant Scotland

The beloved poet of Scotland Robert Burns (1759-1796) was a farm boy, his songs full of daisies, lilacs, and ‘red, red roses.’ But the national celebration of his birthday, January 25, is observed with thistles, this being Scotland’s national flower.

Since local thistles won’t bloom till May, florists have had to scour the world for decorations, for what would Burns Night be, without bagpipes, haggis, and a vase of thistles?

“It’s a bit like taking coals to Newcastle,” Stead Nicolle admitted.  “The 28-year old director of fresh flower importers Sandico (UK) said: ‘I was amazed at the rush in demand we had for thistles this week for the Burns Night celebrations.’” Nicolle and his wife Nicky had thought ahead, importing thistles from Zimbabwe, where it’s summer now.

Queens Head tribute to Robert Burns

Photo: Selkirk Scotland

The Burns celebrations will stretch on into the weekend, both in Scotland and elsewhere. We’ve come across festivities scheduled in Toronto, in Spokane, Washington, and even Houston.

Should you care to hold a Burns Night gathering , this site generously provides a format, from the Selkirk prayer and the presentation of haggis (sheep’s stomach), to the whisky toasts. Whate’er you do, don’t forget your thistles. They’ve earned a place at the party.

“The prickly purple thistle was adopted as the Emblem of Scotland during the rein of Alexander III (1249 -1286). Legend has it that an Army of King Haakon of Norway, intent on conquering the Scots, landed at the Coast of Largs at night to surprise the sleeping Scottish Clansmen. In order to move more stealthily under the cover of darkness the Norsemen removed their footwear.”

Big mistake.

Badge, Knights of the Order of the Thistle

Photo: Scots History Online

At night, the barefoot Nordic soldiers couldn’t fully appreciate Scotland’s wildflower. “One of Haakon’s men stood on one of these spiny little defenders and shrieked out in pain, alerting the Clansmen.” So the Scots prevailed.  Hammering home this story several centuries later King James V named the Order of the Thistle in 1540. Every order needs its own medal, and this one is a beauty.

A silver cross and star surround the image of a thistle and the motto “Nemo me impune lacessit”—“No-one harms me without punishment.” In Scottish, that’s “Wha daurs meddle wi me.”  In Texas we’d say, “Don’t mess with Scotland.”

For your reading pleasure, here’s a good introduction to “Rabbie” Burns which includes ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and many other poems, including his ode to haggis…

Robert Burns

…But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,

The trembling earth resounds his tread,

Clap in his walie nieve a blade,

He’ll make it whissle;

An legs an arms, an heads will sned,

Like taps o thrissle….

(But, mark the rustic, haggis-fed;

The trembling earth resounds his tread,

Grasp in his ample hands a flail

He’ll make it whistle,

Stout legs and arms that never fail,

Proud as the thistle.)