Burns Night

Scotland’s most famous national poet, Robert Burns, is honoured annually on January 25th. This major event is recognised and celebrated all over the country, as well as in other areas of the United Kingdom.

Despite the fact that this evening is dedicated to remembering Burns, it is really both a celebration and a tribute to Scottish culture, traditions, cuisine, language, and people. While the 25th of January is not a bank holiday in Scotland, it is considered by the Scottish Parliament to be a major cultural celebration.

Who was Robert Burns?

Born on January 25^th 1759, Robert Burns was an 18th century poet who is said to be a pioneer of the Romantic movement.

Burns is known as the ‘national poet of Scotland’; however, much like the work of so many others, Burns’ works were largely overlooked and underappreciated during his lifetime, with his genius only being fully appreciated long after his passing. On 21^st July 1796, at the tender age of 37, he passed away, but not before he had written many poems that would establish him as a literary legend.

His works frequently feature Scots or a light Scots dialect, such as the well-known songs; ‘Auld Lang Syne’, ‘Tam o’ Shanter’, ‘Ae Fond Kiss’, ‘Red, Red Rose’, ‘Scots Wha Hae’, and ‘A Man’s a Man for A’ That’. To this day, Scots continue to celebrate his birthday and remember his career on the anniversary of his birth, more than 250 years after his passing.

How is Burns Night celebrated?

Burns Night was first organised in 1801 by Burns’ close friends and family as a memorial dinner to mark the fifth anniverary his death. The menu consisted of traditional Scottish foods, and still does to this day!

Haggis: Haggis is typically prepared by cooking sheep’s offal, spices, and oats in the stomach of the animal. It is a dense and crumbly mixture. The haggis that is offered in supermarkets these days typically have an artificial casing, quite similar to that of a sausage, and there are also vegetarian alternatives. The poet’s love for the meal is captured in his composition “Address to a Haggis,” which is read after the Haggis has been set down at the meal.

Neeps and Tatties: Its full name, ‘bashed neeps and chappit tatties’, literally translates to “mashed swedes and chopped potatoes.” Both the swedes and the potatoes are prepared in the same manner, either by individually steaming or boiling until cooked.

And of course, a glass of quality Scotch whisky is a must to wash it all down with!

Will you be celebrating Burns Night this year? Let us know in the comments!

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