Robert Burns & Burns Night

Robert Burns (aka Rabbie Burns) was born on 25th January 1759. Although he spelled his surname Burness until 1786. He grew up in Ayrshire, in the South West of Scotland, on his father, William’s farm.

Much of his education was from his father. By the age of 15 Robert was a principle labourer on the farm. During the harvest in 1774, inspiration through his assistant Nelly Kirkpatrick gave way to his first attempt at poetry; O, Once I Lov'd A Bonnie Lass.

After struggling in farming he became involved in Freemasonry. He was initiated into masonic Lodge St David Tarbolton on 4 July 1781 and was passed and raised on 1st October that same year. In early 1787, he was feted by the Edinburgh Masonic fraternity and named the Poet Laureate of the lodge–a title which has since been accepted by Freemasonry in general. The Edinburgh period of Burns's life was of great consequence, as further editions of the Kilmarnock Edition were sponsored by the Edinburgh Freemasons, ensuring that his name spread around Scotland and subsequently to England and abroad.

His first child, Elizabeth Paton Burns, was born in 1785 to his mother's servant, Elizabeth Paton, while he was embarking on a relationship with Jean Armour, who became pregnant with twins in March 1786. Burns was eventually married to Jean Armour in 1788 after many family feuds. She gave birth to nine of his children, although only 3 survived infancy.

Burns took up a job as a bookkeeper on a slave plantation in Jamaica when he came into financial difficulty looking after his family. It was around this time when he fell in love with Mary Campbell and he dedicated the poems The Highland Lassie O, Highland Mary and To Mary in Heaven to her. There are suggestions that they planned to emigrate to Jamaica together after a marriage ceremony but Mary returned home to her parents.

Further love affairs and romances included Agnes 'Nancy' McLehose and Jenny Clow, Nancy's domestic servant, who bore him a son, Robert Burns Clow in 1788 before he returned to Jean Armour in 1788.

In April 1786, in need of more money to emigrate, Burns decided to try to publish some of his poems. On 31 July 1786 John Wilson, a local printer in Kilmarnock, published the volume of works by Robert Burns, Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish dialect. It was a huge success and he was soon known across the country.

His music career began in 1787 when he met James Johnson and the first volume of The Scots Musical Museum was published containing three of Burns’ songs.

In 1788 he returned to farming, on a farm near Dumfries, but also trained as an exciseman and so gave up farming in 1791 when he had created a career in Customs & Excise. It was around this time that he was writing at his best, and in November 1790 had produced Tam O' Shanter. He also began writing lyrics for The Melodies of Scotland.

His poem (and song) Auld Lang Syne is often sung at Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve), and Scots Wha Hae served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of the country. Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well-known across the world today include A Red, Red Rose; A Man's A Man for A' That; To a Louse; To a Mouse; The Battle of Sherramuir; Tam o' Shanter, and Ae Fond Kiss. Many of Burns' most famous poems are songs with the music based upon older traditional songs. For example, Auld Lang Syne is set to the traditional tune Can Ye Labour Lea, A Red, Red Rose is set to the tune of Major Graham and The Battle of Sherramuir is set to the Cameronian Rant.

Rabbie Burns sadly died on 21st July 1796, aged 37, after a dental extraction. He was at first buried in the far corner of St. Michael's Churchyard in Dumfries; however, his body was eventually moved in September 1815 to its final resting place, in the same cemetery, the Burns Mausoleum. Jean Armour was laid to rest with him in 1834.

Burns, a romantic poet, was regarded as the National Poet of Scotland. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language. His themes included republicanism, radicalism, Scottish patriotism, anticlericalism, class inequalities, gender roles, commentary on the Scottish Kirk of his time, Scottish cultural identity, poverty, sexuality, and the beneficial aspects of popular socialising. The strong emotional highs and lows associated with many of Burns' poems have led some to suggest that he suffered from manic depression.

Burns clubs have been founded worldwide. The first one, known as The Mother Club, was founded in Greenock in 1801 by merchants born in Ayrshire, some of whom had known Burns. The club set its original objectives as "To cherish the name of Robert Burns; to foster a love of his writings, and generally to encourage an interest in the Scottish language and literature." The club also continues to have local charitable work as a priority.

Burns' birthplace in Alloway is now a public museum known as Burns Cottage. His house in Dumfries is operated as the Robert Burns House, and the Robert Burns Centre in Dumfries features more exhibits about his life and works. Ellisland Farm in Auldgirth, which he owned from 1788 to 1791, is a museum and working farm.

The Soviet Union was the first country in the world to honour Burns with a commemorative stamp, marking the 160th anniversary of his death in 1956. Burns is pictured on the £5 banknote (since 1971) of the Clydesdale Bank, one of the Scottish banks with the right to issue banknotes. On the reverse of the note there is a vignette of a field mouse and a wild rose which refers to Burns' poem To a Mouse.

In September 2007, the Bank of Scotland redesigned their banknotes, and Robert Burns' statue is now portrayed on the reverse side of new £5. In 2009, the Royal Mint issued a commemorative two pound coin featuring a quote from "Auld Lang Syne".

Burns Night is celebrated on 25 January with Burns suppers around the world. The first Burns supper in The Mother Club in Greenock was held on what they thought was his birthday on 29 January 1802, but in 1803 they discovered from the Ayr parish records that the correct date was 25 January 1759.

The format of Burns suppers has not changed since it was first celebrated. The basic format starts with a general welcome and announcements, followed with the Selkirk Grace. After the grace, comes the piping and cutting of the haggis, where Burns' famous Address To a Haggis is read and the haggis is cut open. The meal is served and then the reading called the "Immortal Memory", an overview of Burns' life and work, is given. "Toast to the Lassies" follows, which is a thanks to the ladies for preparing the food and to toast the lassies in Burns' life. "The Response" is then given; and the event usually concludes with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

Food and drink are essential ingredients of any good Burns Night. We have put together a simple and traditional Burns Night menu below which is sure to impress your guests.

Starter - Cock-a-leekie soup and Cullen Skink are both starters that you might find at a traditional Burns supper and are sure to warm you up on a cold winter’s night.

Main Meal - Traditionally haggis, neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes) form the main meal at a Burn’s Night, with the haggis a focal point of the whole supper.

Dessert - We would recommend finishing off your Burn’s Night with a traditional Scottish dessert such as Cranachan.

Whisky is used for toasting the haggis, the immortal memory, and the lassies. In case you needed an excuse for a wee dram here is our rundown of the top 5 single malt Scotch whiskies to enjoy with your haggis this coming Burns' Night.

Glenmorangie

Coming in at number 5 is Glenmorangie, a single malt whisky founded by William Matheson in the Scottish Highlands in 1843.

The Singleton -

At number 4 is The Singleton single malt whisky. Master of Malts Keith Law draws on 36 years of experience to blend the two whisky's into the rather delicious Singleton Glendullan.

The Macallan

One of the first distillers in Scotland to be legally licensed, The Macallan was founded by Alexander Reid in the north-east of Scotland by the river Spey.

The Glenlivet

In 1822 founder George Smith established The Glenlivet distillery in the Livet valley, hidden away from prying eyes when the production of whisky was illegal.

Glenfiddich

The cream of the crop at number one is Glenfiddich single malt - Gaelic for "Valley of the Deer". It is an exquisite whisky for Burns night toasting.

The age old question when it comes to the most exciting Scottish event of the year, what should I wear to a Burns Supper? Any occasion to wear the full kilt outfit is always welcomed in our opinion, and a celebration of our national bard certainly warrants making the effort. We have created a few mood boards to give you inspiration of products you can pair together to give you that extra helping hand, or you can of course go and have a browse of our Burns Night Category which is filled with product recommendations.

For the gents there are two ways you can add tartan into your outfit, you can go the full hog by opting for the larger items such as a Kilt Outfit or a three piece tartan suit, this option will definitely turn a few heads with the other guests, but it really is our favourite way to wear tartan. Go big or go home! Alternatively you can choose to accessorise using tartan, we would suggest, a bow tie, cummerbund or cufflinks, this is definitely the more subtle approach.

Somehow it seems easier for the ladies to add a touch of tartan to their outfit. If you don't want to go all out with a dress or bolero jacket then we have so many lovely little brooches, bags, stoles and other accessories you are spoilt for choice.

Our favourite tartans to pair together for the big night are the Burns Check with Black Watch or Thompson Camel and Scotland Forever, we think they compliment each other so well. But remember tartan is such a timeless piece, that you can never go wrong no matter what variation and combination you choose.

If you are struggling to think of what accessories you should add in to your outfit, then not to worry as we have created a Burns in a Box, full of accessories that are perfect for any outfit or Scottish cultural occasion. We have a boxes for the men, women and even a couples box, if you feel like matching with your other half.

The venue and tables are also usually decorated in the Scottish theme too with Tartan Tablecloths and Napkins. We even have a Burns in a Box for your table as well, again with the Burns Check theme so that you can co-ordinate your outfit with your table display, there are no half measures being taken for Burns Night 2021!