traditions | Tingwall Primary 4/5

Tonight people all over the world will be celebrating Burns night. We looked at why we celebrate Burns night and who Robert Burns was.

Burns Night is a celebration often held in Scotland around 25th January. It celebrates the life and work of a famous writer named Robert Burns.

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet (25th January 1759 to 21st July 1796) His work is very well known and celebrated worldwide. He wrote his works in both the Scots language and Standard English. He also wrote folk songs which are still enjoyed by many people today, his most famous one is Auld Lang Syne.

On Burns Night, many people have a traditional dinner called Burns Supper. This usually includes eating haggis, which is a traditional Scottish food. It is often served with neeps and tatties. Poems written by Burns are often read aloud too.

Before people start eating their Burns Supper, the Selkirk Grace is often said:

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae let the Lord be thankit.

Robert Burns is still very famous today. He has been voted ‘The Greatest Scot’ by the Scottish Public in a survey held by national Scottish television channel, STV.

There is also a Robert Burns Museum which is in the place where Robert was born.