Burns Night……a very Scottish Celebration

Robert Burns Birthplace, Alloway.

The Burns Cottage Museum

A simple Thatched Cottage.  A farmhouse built by William Burnes,* a farmer in Alloway (Ayrshire,Scotland) for his wife Agnes and eventually their 6 children.  The eldest was Robert (affectionately known as Robbie or Rabbie)  was born on the 25th January 1759 and went on, in what was a very short life, to be acclaimed by many as Scotland’s Favourite Son.  Best described as a Poet and Lyricist, Robert had a mixed education, which had to accommodate long periods of time working on the family farm, blended with a mix of school and later individual tuition. It would seem he had a natural poets ability for descriptive verse, and much encouraged by his tutors, pursued his craft and eventually being dubbed with the name  ‘The Ploughman Poet’. His  life ended in 1796, it was indeed a short life of 37 years and now today his birth and his poetic legacy is celebrated by Scott’s the World over.  I suspect that many none Scott’s are unaware that on Hogmanay, on the passing from the old year to the new, we sing perhaps the most famous of his poems…..

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

I also suspect that most of us none Scott’s only know the first 2 of the 6 verses, none the less we still enjoy and share the sentiments it has expressed for over 220 years.

Then of course there are the tales of ‘Tam o’Shanter’ a farmer who, one evening, lingered far too long  in the pub and on his long walk home he had visions of Witches and Warlocks.

Celebrations across the world, from Scotland to Australia,  will feature many a Burn’s Supper where the Haggis is the traditional dish, piped in to the room by Bagpipes and much ceremony including recitals of Burns verse.   Not a bad achievement for a young Scotsman.

The Cottage Museum, which I suspect looks mush smarter today than when William Burnes built it, is a simple memorial to Robert Burns.  Thankfully Alloway have created a more substantial Memorial and Park for quiet contemplation by visitors on the Robert Burns Trail….

* Those of you with eagle eyes will have spotted that William Burnes has an ‘e’ in it. It was Robert Burns who dropped the ‘e’ from the spelling of his name.  Whilst Robert has a grand memorial his parents William and Agnes have a much simpler resting place in the Auld Kirk….simpler but equally evocative….

NOTE: I mention only two of Robert Burns many works….click the link to find out much more:-http://robertburns.org/.   You will be surprised just how many have stood the test of time.

25th January

© David Oakes 2014