Burns Night

Burns night was started in 1801 by a few close friends of the late Robert Burns, poet laureate of Scotland, who gathered to toast his memory on the anniversary of his death July 21st. The evening apparently went well, because they gathered again the next year, and the next ,and the next. Burn’s night is now an official Scottish holiday celebrated not just in Scotland but by Scots and their friends all over the world. The celebration is now held on the anniversary of his birth, January 25th. The January date was more amenable to farmers who were not so busy at this time of year.

2009 marked the 250th anniversary of his birth, and no less than 80 countries hosted more than 3,600 registered celebrations in honor of the man. The celebrations are usually known as Burn’s suppers, and they come with a bit of a protocol, but this should intimidate no one that entertains the idea of hosting such an evening.

I will share with you what I have come to treasure as one of my very favorite holidays. I start planning months ahead of time each year and enjoy every moment spent laying out the details of this fun evening. I am not sure why this holds such joy for me, possibly because it is truly a holiday for everyone regardless of ethnicity, culture, education, or beliefs. Robert Burns was the everyman, he believed in equality for all and he lived his life championing that cause through his works. You do not have to be Scottish, of Scottish descent, or even know much about Scottish things to recognize this man for all men and celebrate him.

The First Burns Night

In 1801, five years after his death on July 21st, and on the anniversary of his birthday January 25th, a group of officers and privates of the Argyll Militia went to the birthplace of Robert Burns. The cottage, which is in Alloway, in Ayrshire, Scotland had been used as an inn, named the The King’s Arms; the regiment’s band played several tunes of Burns’ in remembrance of their beloved bard. We can presume this was followed by a wee dram drank to his memory as it was after all a Scottish regiment.

The following year, his friends organized a supper in his honor; they read his poems, sang his songs, ate haggis, and drank a whisky toast to his immortal memory. This memorial celebration was arranged by the Reverend Hamilton Paul, acting on behalf of John Ballantyne, Provost of Ayrshire and Robert Aitken, an attorney, who had been friends of Burns.

The first few years the celebrations were held on the 29th of January. James Currie had written a biography of Robert Burns and he mistakenly included the wrong date of birth.

There were also attempts to celebrate Burns night during the summer months, however, because this was the busiest time of year for farmers it was returned to his correct birth date of January 25th.

On the centenary of his birth in 1859 the world celebrated in over 900 locations scattered over the globe.

2009 marked the 250th anniversary of his birth, and no less than 80 countries hosted more than 3,600 registered celebrations in honor of the man. The celebrations now come with a bit of a protocol, but this should intimidate no one that entertains the idea of hosting such an evening.

The 25th of January tradition soon spread and now, all over the world people celebrate by eating the traditional supper of haggis, neeps and tatties, read his poems, sing his songs and down multiple toasts of the national drink to the memory of Robbie Burns.

I will share with you what I have come to treasure as one of my very favorite holidays. I start planning months ahead of time each year and enjoy every moment spent laying out the details for this fun evening. I am not sure why this holds such joy for me, possibly because it is truly a holiday for everyone regardless of ethnicity, culture, education, or beliefs. Robert Burns was the everyman, he believed in equality for all and he lived his life championing that cause through his works. You do not have to be Scottish, of Scottish descent, or even know much about Scottish things to recognize this man for all men and celebrate him.