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Robert Burns
Robert Burns (1759 to 1796) wrote poetry and lyrics in the Scots language as well as in Scots dialect and English, and is now known worldwide as Scotland’s national poet. Probably his most famous work is «Auld Lang Syne» which is sung at the beginning of each New Year all around the world! Burns died at only 37 years old but his poems are still enjoyed today. Every year he is remembered on Burns Night, which you can read more about and join in with here:
Burns Night for Kids
“My love is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June:
My love is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.
How fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in love am I;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till all the seas gang dry.
Till all the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt with the sun;
I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands of life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only love.
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my love,
Though it were ten thousand mile.”
Robert Burns
Burns Night
«When Scotland forgets Burns, then history will forget Scotland”
J S Blackie
What Is Burns Night?
Five years after Robert Burns died, a group of his friends got together to remember him and his poetry. The tradition became established and now, every year on his birthday, 25th January, Scots all round the world celebrate Burns Night with a Burns Supper which follows a format similar to the original dinner (often with much toasting and drinking of whisky!) We’ve got more details of some well-loved Burns Night traditions for you to read about, plus some family-friendly ideas for your own Burns Night celebrations — everything from recipes through to printables of the Selkirk Grace and Address to a Haggis, colouring pages, and lots more, and this year you can even learn how to draw Robert Burns! Explore below. New this year we have a fun set of printables and colouring pages for younger children, which you could combine to form a mini-project, folder or notebook.
Burns Night Supper
A traditional Burns Supper will often include the following:
- Cock-A-Leekie soup (chicken and vegetable)
- Haggis, neeps and tatties
- Sherry Trifle
- Oatcakes and cheese
If you can’t get hold of a haggis or would prefer not to, you could always make a meatloaf!
A plate of haggis, neeps and tatties
Format for A Burns Supper
At a grand dinner, guests are piped in by bagpipes to take their places at the dining table. The guests are welcomed by the host, who declares the celebrations open. The Selkirk Grace (see below) is read, and supper begins with a soup course (often the Scottish favourite Cock-A-Leekie soup). Now the haggis, a traditional Scottish dish (not for the faint-hearted!) is piped in from the kitchen while the guests stand and clap the haggis in. The host or an invited guest reads Burn’s famous poem, Address To A Haggis, cutting open the haggis with a large knife when they reach the line «an cut you up wi’ ready slight»! The haggis is eaten with mashed tatties and neeps (potatoes and turnip, swede or rutabaga.) Then there will be dessert (often sherry trifle) and oatcakes and cheese.
After dinner there will be a toast to the Queen, and one of the guests will give a short speech about Burns called «The Immortal Memory». A man makes a «Toast to the Lassies» and a lady makes a toast in reply. Guests will take turns reading Burns poems, singing Burns songs and possibly doing some Highland dancing! The party will close with everyone singing Auld Lang Syne (scroll down).