A Scottish Celebration
Scotland's National Bard
Robert Burns, born 1759, lived a short life but one filled with works that continue to inspire to this day. Burns started off his life in Ayrshire on a tenant farm. Following the death of his father, Burns inherited the unsuccessful farm. Though he penned his first love poem at the tender age of 15, it was not until 1786 that he rose to fame across the country with his first publicised work – Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. Unfortunately, Burns was not widely recognised for his works to preserve traditional Scottish culture until after his death. Burns died at just 37 years old of a rheumatic heart condition, leaving behind 12 children.
To this day, celebrations mark the National Bard's birthday. These celebrations originally took place on the day of his death but, in 1801, the first Burns Club began celebrating on the poet's birthday and started a tradition of Burns Night all over the world. The night reads a number of his works and follows a traditional Scottish menu. Burns Nights are as much a celebration of Scottish culture as they are in honour of Robert Burns.
On The Night
The most important part of any Burns Supper is the Haggis, or as Burns refers to it in his poem 'Address to a Haggis' – "Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!" Alongside the meal, many of Burns' works are read out of the course of the evening including, Toast to the Lassies, Tam O'Shanter, and The Selkirk Grace.
Where To Go
There are a number of Burns Supper events all over Scotland; Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth, Fife to name a few! You could even host your own!
If you're looking for somewhere to stay to make a trip out of the celebrations, get in touch via our Facebook Page or our website/email address and we can get a quote to you.
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