BELFAST — Last year, when I was traveling around Scotland with a tour bus called Rabbie’s, our guide told us what the name meant.

“First of all, it’s not pronounced Rabies,” he said. Turns out like most clueless Yanks, I didn’t know the name was a Scottish diminutive for Robert, and that the company was an affectionate nod to Scotland’s most famous poet and lyricist, Robert Burns.

I also didn’t know that around every Jan. 25, pubs and restaurants all around Scotland (and the world) fill with extremely enthusiastic “Rabbie” Burns’ fans and that everyone looks forward to eating haggis, ceilidh dancing, singing songs, reciting poetry and of course throwing down the good whisky. (Another fun fact: only in Scotland do you spell whisky without the ‘e’.)

The Maine Celtic Celebration wants all the local Scots and Scots-at-heart to have the same celebration, and on Jan. 21, they’ll host Burns Night at The Waldo County Shrine Club on Northport Avenue in Belfast.

“The program starts with the piping of the haggis in which the centerpiece of the feast is ceremoniously carried into the room,” said Burns Night representative Claudia Luchetti. “Next will come the ‘Address to a Haggis,’ one of Burns’ more famous poems.” (See accompanying video to hear the original dialect of the poem.)

“It’s written in Old Scottish so it’s a little hard to understand exactly what it means. The address this year will be given in authentic dialect by James Rodden, a recent Scottish immigrant and former member of Scotland's Black Watch regiment. Once the Address is recited, the haggis will be ‘smote’ and chopped up so that people can taste it,” she said. “Then our host Chris Brinn will invite audience members to give toasts to the lads and lassies. He will also lead a group of local Celtic musicians.”

Beyond haggis, other local organizations have contributed food for the evening including smoked salmon from Ducktrap River, State of Maine cheeses, soup from the Belfast Co-op and appetizers from Darbys Restaurant and The Penobscot Shores kitchen.

The Burns Night will start with a traditional Scotch tasting led by Barry Grant from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Advance registration required. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door for the entire event, including the whisky tasting. Barry will offer interesting details about various single malt Scotch whiskies as the samples are tasted.

If you want to skip the whisky tasting and just come for the food and entertainment, the doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door for the food and entertainment. Advance tickets are available on line at mainecelticcelebration.com.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com