Last weekend, Animative Group attended the Budapest Burns Night Supper with the RBIF — complete with the “piping in” of the haggis (which is very tasty and not really all that scary). We enjoyed a full-Brigadoon kind of evening — with singing and dancing, poetry and music! Wonderful! And who doesn’t love men in kilts? (Outlander anyone?)
There was pomp and ceremony with one of Robert Burns’ famous poems, “Address to the Haggis,” recited both in Scots tongue and in Hungarian after the haggis was escorted in by skirling bagpipes.
What is the Budapest Burns Night Supper?
Burns Night marks the anniversary of the poet Robert Burns’ birth, Scotland’s most famous poet of all time. Ever hear of “Auld Lang Syne?” He wrote it. Given that Robert Burns was born on 25th January 1759, Burns Night takes place on 25th January each year. Held throughout the world on Burns Night (or on an evening close to it), a traditional Burns supper is an evening event that celebrates Robert Burns’ life and work.
Here in Budapest, the Burns Suppers are organised by the Robert Burns International Foundation and have been held in the ballroom of the Corinthia Hotel, Budapest since 2004.
Who are the RBIF – The Robert Burns International Foundation?
The Robert Burns International Foundation is a charity established with the aim of helping sick and underprivileged children in Hungary. The RBIF works continuously on forging links with companies and organisations in Hungary to develop and expand its fundraising activity. Having raised hundreds of thousands of euros, the RBIF is a highly efficient networking organisation. The foundation focuses its efforts on raising money to benefit sick and underprivileged children in Hungary and Central Europe. This fundraising is boosted by the SME Sponsorship Scheme, enabling regular donations to children’s medical facilities in Hungary every year.
This year, the 2022 Burns NIght Supper raised over HUF 9 Million.
Animative Group at Burns Night
While this was my 4th Burns Night Supper, this was the first one for Animative Group. I was thrilled to be there with our CEO, Károly Molnár and his wife, Eszter, along with colleagues from our legal, international business development, and smart technology divisions. Furthermore, our Animative Smart Home division sponsored this very nice 18 year old whisky for the silent auction. Thanks so much to Douglas Arnott BEM, Chairman of the RBIF, for being such a wonderful host – and helping us with our whisky selection.
As new members of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hungary, this evening also gave us the opportunity to meet and mingle with our fellow members and chat with Chairman, Duncan Graham.
We all had a wonderful night and look forward supporting this event again next year.
Other Event Details
Nevis Sponsors: bp, FirstMed, Taxually
Saltire Sponsors: AstraZeneca, Budapest Airport, Gerrards Wealth Management
Thistle Sponsors: AVC Health, Budapest British International School, CBRE
Sponsor of the Year was Professor György Fekete, Medical Adviser to the RBIF, in recognition of his 54 years in the medical profession at the 2nd Department of Paediatrics and his 25 years of medical advice and expertise given to the RBIF
Special thanks from organisers to: Corinthia Hotel Budapest, Arran Distillery, Aston Martin, Diageo, Good Spirit Bar, Heineken, Isle of Harris Distillery, Kovács Nimrod Winery, UPS, Vylyan Bor, WhiskyNet, XpatLoop.com and Zwack.
