ROBERT BURNS

 

This Sunday evening across Scotland and native Scottish lands, There will be a fair few Burns night celebrations. It is the Scottish tradition known as Burns night. A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, the author of many Scots poems. The suppers are usually held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, known as Burns Night also called Robert Burns Day or Rabbie Burns Day. With haggis the main feast food eaten.  

I think I only ever tried haggis once, I'm not scotish or have as far as I know  no Scottish anstestry.  Heres what I learnt about  it; Haggis is a traditional Scottish savoury pudding made from sheep’s offal (heart, liver, lungs), minced with oats, onions, suet, and spices, traditionally cooked in a sheep's stomach. It has a crumbly texture and nutty, peppery flavor. It is famously served with "neeps and tatties" (mashed swede and potatoes) on Burns Night. Um yes I can understand why not now.  

So lets not digress further from the matter in hand. Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759 in Alloway Ayrshire in Scotland. He died 21 July 1796 at the young age of 37. Als affectionately known as Rabbie Burns, he was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is in a "light Scots dialect" across the United Kingdom and world wide.He also wrote in standard English. Many people unlike myself will have studied this great poet in your education years. Sadly for me that was not, but I was familiar with his name and place of origin.

Burns is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, and after his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora around the world. 

As well as making original compositions, Burns also collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. His poem (and song) "Auld Lang Syne" is often sung at Hogmanay (the last day of the year), and "Scots Wha Hae" served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of the country. 

Shamefully I have to admit I know very little of this as an English lassy. I was educated in special education settings, so Characters such he were very rarely taught. I know of Robert Burns and that he was a poet. Today I attended a talk and poetry and music recital about him. I learnt he was an interesting fellow and for who enjoyed female company. 

This article only skims over the outline of Robert Burns As a poet myself I always enjoy hearing works I never come across before; Poems like 'Red, red rose.I think there is going to be a little more detective work about Robert Burns, from these little Prolific fingers. 

So to all my Scottish readers 'Happy Burns' night for 25th January. 

This Writers Heart