Burns Night - 25th January

Celebrate Robert Burns on the anniversary of his birth on 25 January with a spectacular Burns Supper which includes haggis, whisky, singing, dancing and a lot of laughter and fun.

Haggis is a savoury pudding containing sheep's pluck (heart, liver and lung); minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally encased in the animal's stomach and simmered for approximately three hours.

Scotland celebrates the life of the National Bard, Robert Burns, every 25 January with Burns Night, an entertaining evening of fantastic food, delectable drams, dancing and rousing verse.

Held on the anniversary of Burns’ birth, the celebrations were originally started by some of his close friends a few years after his death and now Burns Night is celebrated across the world each year. Burns’ life and works are commemorated with songs, recitals and tributes and a hearty feast, including haggis, is enjoyed at a traditional Burns Supper.

You can join in with the festivities at many restaurants across Scotland that host formal Burns Night dinners .

WHO WAS ROBERT BURNS?

Robert Burns is one of Scotland’s most important literary figures and is best known for his famous, and often humorous, songs and poetry. Burns was an inspiring and passionate pioneer of his generation and is regarded as Scotland’s National Bard.

More commonly known as Rabbie, Burns was born to a poor family in Alloway, Ayr, on 25 January 1759 and began his working life on the family farm. Burns’ father recognised the importance of education and hired a local teacher for Burns, who went on to demonstrate signs of an exceptional writing talent from a very young age.

As Burns grew older, his great passion for Scotland and his dynamic, contemporary vision played an important role in inspiring the founders of socialism and liberalism. His literary fame began when his first work Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, later known as the Kilmarnock Edition, was published in 1786 after which his writing career flourished.

Although Burns only lived to the age of 37, he enjoyed an eventful life and produced an astonishing amount of great literary work during his career.

Although more than 200 years have passed since his death, Burns remains one of the most celebrated figures in Scottish history and culture, demonstrated by the annual Burns Night celebrations held across the country on 25 January each year.

Probably his most famous work is "Auld Lang Syne" which is sung at the beginning of each New Year all around the world! Listen to it and ... sing along!